High volumes boost JSE
19 March 2010
The JSE closed solid in the black on Thursday amid a boost from high trading volumes which extended 470 million shares at a value exceeding R22-billion.
The JSE's all share index lifted 0.96 percent and closed at 28 806.140 points.
The platinum mining index shot up 3.6 percent, the gold mining index collected 0.60 percent while resources gained 0.47 percent.
Industrials advanced 1.51 percent while banks and financials added 1.47 percent and 0.87 percent respectively.
Among platinum miners, Angloplat rallied 3.04 percent to 744.99 rand, Impala Platinum rocketed 4.45 percent to 206 rand while Aquarius shot up 3.14 percent to 46.90 rand.
Among gold counters, Anglogold Ashanti gained 19 cents to 284.99 rand while Goldfields added 1.27 percent to 91.65 rand.
Resources heavyweight, Anglo American edged up 32 cents to 305.92 rand however rival BHP Billiton shed 142 cents to 247.53 rand. Synthetics giant, Sasol lifted 1.30 rand to 285.30 rand.
Among diversified miners, Exxaro rocketed 4.13 percent to 126 rand while African Rainbow gained 1.86 rand to 193.84 rand.
Steel maker Highveld Steel climbed 1.41 percent to 72 rand.
Kumba Iron Ore eased 1.01 rand to 351.99 rand.
Among industrials, brewer SAB Miller rose 1.13 percent to 214.40 rand, Bidvest lifted 1.58 percent to 144.50 rand, Tiger Brands jumped 2.95 percent to 189.65 rand however Imperial pulled back 1.78 percent to 104.05 rand.
Cellular giant, MTN Group rallied 3.75 percent to 124.50 rand while rival Vodacom jumped 2.58 percent to 56.51 rand.
Pharmaceutical giant Aspen and Strides Arcolab Limited earlier announced a restructuring of their arrangements relating to the two oncology joint ventures between Aspen and Strides, Onco Therapies Limited, India and Onco Laboratories Limited, Cyprus. The group's share price rocketed 5.19 percent to 81.84 rand.
Specialist banking group Investec said earlier that its operating profit for the second half of the year ending March is expected to be marginally higher than the prior year. The group's share price slipped 13 cents to 62.72 rand.
Banking giant, Nedbank lifted 1.5 percent to 135.50 rand while FirstRand jumped 2.8 percent to 20.56 rand.
