US paper sounds alarm over SA economy
October 16, 2012--The Wall Street Journal has published an article painting a bleak picture of South Africa's economy, saying labour unrest has caused its economic growth to fall behind other African states.
"The unrest is exposing a stark reality - South Africa is falling behind, even in Africa," read the Wall Street Journal article, published on its website on Friday.
read more
Source: FIN24
JSE ends positive, gold miners dim
October 10, 2012--South African shares turned positive for the first time this week but Gold Fields and other bullion mining firms took a beating from a recovery in the local currency.
Absa, the South African bank majority owned by Barclays, fell 2.8% to R134.60. A black investment group said it had sold a 3.4% stake in the bank.
The Top 40 - (Tradeable) [JSE:J200] index gained 0.21% 32 008.14 and the All Share [JSE:J203] went up by a similar margin to 36 147.62.
read more
Source: FIN24
Rand slightly firmer
October 10, 2012--The rand remained relatively firm at noon, pulling further away from its three-and-a-half year weakest point against the US dollar reached on Monday due to labour strife.
At 11:45am‚ the rand was bid at R8.7116 to the dollar from Tuesday’s close of R8.74513‚ Monday’s worst level of R8.9945 and Monday’s close of R8.8855.
read more
Source: FIN24
JSE extends losses as rand turns course
October 9, 2012--South African stocks extended losses on Tuesday as a slightly firmer local currency helped reverse the gains made by so-called rand hedges like British American Tobacco.
South African Breweries, to which many investors also fled in the previous session as the rand weakened, unwound over 3% to R374.33.
read more
Source: FIN24
Rand tumbles to near R9/dollar
October 9, 2012--The rand fell more than 1.9% against the dollar on Monday to another three-and-a-half year low as strikes that have hit output in the mining sector continued to hurt sentiment.
The rand fell to R8.97 to the dollar, its weakest level since April 2009, according to Reuters data, compared to Friday’s close at R8.79.
read more
Source: FIN24
JSE down on financials, resources
October 8, 2012--The JSE was lower in Monday morning trade after touching fresh intraday highs on Friday, with the financials and resources weighing on the bourse.
At 9:20am the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index was 0.82% softer at 36‚286 points‚ while the Top 40 - (Tradeable) [JSE:J200] index had shed 0.91% to 32‚067 points.
Financials were down more than 1% and resources dropped 1%.
read more
Source: FIN24
JSE edges closer to fresh peak
October 5, 2012--The JSE stock market edged closer to a fresh peak at noon, powered by the resources sector, which benefited from rand weakness.
The local unit slid to its lowest point in more than three years against the US dollar amid continued labour unrest in SA.
At 12:44pm‚ the JSE All Share [JSE:203] index was up 0.89% at 36‚591.84 points‚ while the Top 40 - (Tradeable) [JSE:J200] index was up 1.10% at 32‚358.02 points after earlier rallying to a fresh record level.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand hammered to 3-1/2 year lows
October 5, 2012--South Africa's rand extended losses against the dollar to 2.6% on Friday,
plumbing a 3-1/2 year low as investors dumped local assets on worries about the impact of illegal strikes sweeping Africa's biggest economy.
read more
Source: FIN24
Financials, resources boost JSE
October 4, 2012--The JSE stock market ended in positive territory on Thursday, boosted by the relief bounce in the resources sector, and financial shares.
Better-than-expected US labour data added to the upbeat market mood.
At 5pm‚ the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index ended 0.41% higher at 36 268.96 points‚ with financials lifting 0.57%‚ resources recovering 0.40% but the platinum index easing 0.86%.
read more
Source: FIN24
Strikes dent rand
October 4, 2012--The rand sank this week to within sight of three-year lows against the dollar as a wave of strikes spread beyond the mining sector, threatening the biggest industrial crisis since the end of apartheid.
After two months of violent labour unrest in the platinum and gold mines, Japanese car giant Toyota said on Thursday its Durban plant had fallen victim to the wildcat strikes that are shaking Africa's biggest economy only three months before an ANC leadership election.
read more
Source: FIN24