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Rand and bonds firmer on last trading day
December 30, 2011--The rand was firmer against the dollar in very thin trade at noon on Friday, even as the euro came under slight pressure.
Markets closed at noon today in SA - the last trading day of the year - ahead of the New Year holiday long weekend.
In their last session for 2011, South African bonds were firmer as they tracked the stronger rand
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Source: FIN24
Commodity prices drive JSE lower
December 29, 2011--The JSE ended the day in the red after commodities continued to dictate the local market direction.
A local trader said that trade was in the red solely as a result of commodities pressure, as global markets were up at the time.
Local markets are set to close at midday on Friday ahead of the New Year holiday weekend. They will reopen on Tuesday January 3, as January 2 is a public holiday in SA.
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Source: FIN24
Rand slightly firmer against dollar
December 29, 2011-- South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar on Thursday with fewer importers around to buy dollars towards year-end but decent two-way trade left 8.10 resistance intact.
The currency traded in a 10 cent range between 8.12 and 8.22 per dollar in Thursday's session. It attempted 8.10 in the previous session but failed to break through that level.
If the rand manages to strengthen past 8.10 -- a level attempted in the past week and in November -- 8 rand forms the next area of resistance.
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Source: FIN24
JSE edges lower after US open
December 28, 2011--The JSE ended the day a shade lower as US markets started trade.
A local trader said: "The JSE started off flattish, but gold share prices came under a lot of pressure, however the market managed to get into positive territory, but as the US came in, we weakened a little."
He said there was not much in the way of economic data of any significance lately.
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Source: FIN24
Rand firms, stuck at resistance level
December 28, 2011--The rand firmed for a fifth day against the dollar on Wednesday, boosted by year-end flows and support for riskier assets from a stable euro.
The rand was 0.4 percent firmer against the dollar at 8.1190 by 1430 GMT, up from its previous close at 8.15. It strengthened to 8.10 in the session before bouncing back from that resistance level as trading volumes stayed thin.
"Although euro/dollar has been mostly rangebound, the rand may be getting support from a few year-end flows, allowing the unit to firm," said Anisha Arora, an emerging markets analyst at 4Cast Limited.
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Source: EUbusiness
SA stocks edge up, may end 2011 level
December 23, 2011--South African stocks ended a holiday-shortened session higher on Friday, gaining 0.8% as firmer commodity prices helped put the benchmark index at a break-even level for 2011.
The JSE Top 40 (Tradeable) [JSE:J200] blue-chip index rose for the second straight session, finishing at 28 641.11, virtually unchanged so far this year, but on course to outperform European and Japanese equity markets, both down about 12% and 17% respectively.
The broader All Share [JSE:J203] index was 0.7% higher at 32 127.25.
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Source: FIN24
Rand firms slightly against dollar
December 23, 2011--The rand was firm against the dollar in early trade on Friday but looked to close within last week’s range as thin trade and lack of market-moving data see the local currency follow the euro’s moves.
Bonds are expected to continue their gradual gains in the session as reinvestment of coupon payments and an illiquid market pushes prices to a two-week high.
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Source: FIN24
JSE boosted by US data
December 22, 2011--The JSE held onto its gains at close on Thursday buoyed by better than expected US employment data, while investors in Europe took a more positive view of the European Central Bank's refinancing operation.
At 17:00 local time, the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index was up 0.81%, boosted by a 1.04% rise in platinum miners and a 0.80% jump in resources. However, gold miners declined 0.79%.
Banks rose 1.28%, financials advanced 0.98% and industrial counters gained 0.77%.
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Source: FIN24
Rand off best levels, bonds firm
December 22, 2011--The rand was off its best levels of the day against the dollar in thin Thursday afternoon trade while South African bonds remained on a firm footing.
By 15:50, the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 6.750% from its previous close of 6.780%. The R207 was bid at 7.935% and offered at 7.910% from a previous close of 7.950% and the R186 was bid at 8.525% and offered at 8.495% from its close of 8.540%.
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Source: FIN24
JSE ends off as Dow declines
December 21, 2011--The JSE was dragged weaker on Wednesday, but in line with a negative start on Wall Street as concerns remained over no long-term solution to the eurozone debt crisis.
A local dealer said that the few investors who were still trading and not already on the beach were still digesting the results of the European Central Bank's longer-term refinancing initiative.
At 17:00 local time, the JSE all-share index was off by 0.43%, having opened 0.71% to the good and being dragged lower by commodities. Gold miners subsided 0.73%, platinum miners shipped 1.39% and resources waned 1.08%.
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Source: FIN24
