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Rand halts five straight losses
April 17, 2014--The rand has been firmer against the dollar after five prior straight losses as dovish comments from the US Federal Reserve weighed on the greenback.
The rand climbed to as high as R10.4705/$, a level last reached on April 11 according to Thomson Reuters data, and was trading at R10.4750/$ by 15:30 GMT, up 0.87% from Wednesday's close.
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Source: FIN24
Big mining firms pull JSE higher
April 16, 2014--South African stocks have climbed as mining shares were lifted by positive production updates and data showing Chinese economic growth came in a touch above forecasts.
Shares of BHP Billiton rose 1.14% to R338.58 after the world's biggest diversified mining company on Wednesday lifted full-year iron ore production guidance by 5 million tonnes to 217 million as it pushes ahead with new mine work in Australia.
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Source: FIN24
Rand set to snap losing streak
April 16, 2014--The rand looked set to snap a four-session losing streak against the dollar on Wednesday as investor sentiment towards emerging markets received a boost from solid Chinese growth data.
Analysts, however, expected global risk appetite to remain cautious as the political crisis in Ukraine plays out, while a prolonged strike in the platinum mining sector remains a worry for investors.
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Source: FIN24
JSE slides, led lower by miners
April 15, 2014--South African stocks have been dragged lower by top tier mining stocks as global gold prices slumped by more than 2% on US dollar strength.
AngloGold Ashanti was the biggest loser in the blue chips index, tumbling 3.78% at R184.25, its biggest percentage decline in nearly two months.
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Source: FIN24
Rand softer on Ukraine, China fears
April 15, 2014--The rand has weakened against the dollar as the market fretted about what is expected to be weaker Chinese growth data
and escalating tensions in Ukraine.
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JSE survives new wave of risk aversion view more
Weak rand SA's bitter remedy for recovery vie more
Launch of Minimum Variance Indices view more
Launch of Risk Target Indices
The indices de-leverage during times of higher volatility (i.e. increases cash position, decreases index position) and re-leverage during times of lower volatility. Volatility forecasts are based on an exponentially weighted 120 day moving average approach, and are applied daily. view more
World Bank Africa's Growth Set to Reach 5.2 percent in 2014 With Strong Investment Growth and Household Spending view Africa's Pulse April 2014
Source: FIN24
April 14, 2014--Emerging markets are again on the unwanted list as investors,
spooked by the renewed crisis in the Ukraine, are fleeing to safer havens.
Source: FIN24
April 14, 2014--Rand weakness is the bitter medicine necessary to help repair the South African economy over time,
an analyst has told Fin24.
Source: FIN24
April 11, 2014--The new Minimum Variance Indices will be launched on 10 May 2014.
The FTSE/JSE Minimum Variance indices aim to reduce index volatility based on historical return information. This offers potential improvements to the risk-reward ratio, whilst maintaining full allocation to the relevant equity market. Reduced volatility is achieved by applying a transparent rules-based approach which minimises historical variance subject to additional constraints on the weight of individual stocks. An All Share and a Top 40 version are being introduced.
Source: Johannesburg Stock Exchange
April 10, 2014--The new Risk Target Indices will be launched on 10 May 2014.
The FTSE/JSE Top 40 Net Risk Target indices are based upon a rules-based framework that tracks the return of an investment strategy which aims to provide an investor with risk targeted exposures to the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Net Total Return Index. The volatility target indices make use of the empirical properties of the risk statistic and aim to provide an equity investor access to three different levels of risk exposure: 10%, 15% and 20%.
Source: Johannesburg Stock Exchange
April 7, 2014--Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to rise from 4.7 percent in 2013 to a forecasted 5.2 percent in 2014. This performance is boosted by rising investment in natural resources and infrastructure, and strong household spending, according to the World Bank’s new Africa's Pulse, a twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa's economic prospects.
Growth was notably buoyant in resource-rich countries, including Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It remained steady in Cote d'Ivoire, while rebounding in Mali, supported by improved political stability and security. Non-resource-rich countries, particularly Ethiopia and Rwanda, also experienced solid economic growth in 2013.
Source: World Bank
