JSE retreats from earlier gains
19 November 2009
The JSE retreated from its earlier gains on Wednesday as Wall Street took a knock from worse-than-expected US housing data.
The JSE's all share index slipped 0.13% to close at 27 210.640 points. Resources withdrew 0.38%, while the platinum and gold mining indices shed 0.81% and 0.13% respectively.
Banks closed flat (+0.09%), financials slipped 0.29%, however industrials bucked the weaker trend, adding 0.23%.
Resources heavyweight Anglo American plc eased 3.11 rand to 324.89 rand, while rival BHP Billiton shed 13 cents to 232 rand. Synthetics giant Sasol edged up 70 cents to 295.50 rand.
Among gold counters, AngloGold Ashanti lifted 1.90 rand to 336 rand, Harmony rose 40 cents to 80.78 rand, however Gold Fields retreated 1.56% to 107.05 rand.
Among platinum miners, Anglo Platinum withdrew 1.11% to 702.12 rand, Impala Platinum pulled back 1.60 rand to 170.50 rand, however Lonmin gained 1.89% to 216.01 rand.
Among diversified miners, African Rainbow dropped 2.58% to 162.69 rand, however Exxaro lifted 1.65% to 95.65 rand.
Steel maker ArcelorMittal retreated 2.08% to 109 rand, while Kumba Iron Ore pulled back 1.38 rand to 257.62 rand.
Among industrials, brewer SABMiller withdrew 1.07% to 207.66 rand, Barloworld rallied 4.26% to 53.80 rand, while Imperial added 1.80% to 83.54 rand.
Construction giant Murray & Roberts dropped 1.79% to 54.80 rand, however Basil Read rose 1.24% to 15.49 rand.
Clothing retailer Woolies added 1.04% to 17.50 rand, however Truworths dropped 1.63% to 42.30 rand, Foschini slumped 2.87% to 56.80 rand, while Mr Price eased 1.08% to 33.04 rand.
Paper giant Sappi rallied 3.79% to 30.10 rand, however rival Mondi dropped 1.51% to 42.35 rand.
Financial services group Sanlam slumped 2.29% to 21.73 rand.
Banking giant Nedbank retreated 1.13% to 116.17 rand, while Absa pulled back 61 cents to 127.84 rand.
Electronics and electrical engineering group Reunert earlier reported that its full year diluted headline earnings per share were flat at 646.1 cents from last year's 648.7 cents. Releasing its annual results for the year to end September 2009, Reunert declared a cash dividend of 188 cents a share. This is lower than last year's dividend of 241 cents a share.
Revenue declined by six percent to R10.3-billion from R10.9-billion and operating profit fell 28% to R1.1-billion from R1.6-billion a year ago. Headline earnings were unchanged at R1.2-billion while normalised earnings declined by 21% to R892-million. The group's share price soared 3.74% to 54.02 rand.
