The JSE recorded a third consecutive session of gains which saw the local index close firmer on Friday.
Friday’s biggest gains were recorded in Net 1 UEPS [JSE:NT1] and Lewis Group [JSE:LEW] which jumped 19.69% and 12.05% respectively. Ascendis Health [JSE:ASC] and RCL Foods [JSE:RCL] also recorded significant gains of 7.78% and 2.94% respectively. Miners, Kumba Iron Ore [JSE:KIO] and Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP] managed to climb 5.4% and 3.67% respectively.
Retailers recorded decent gains today as stocks such as The Foschini Group [JSE:TFG], Mr Price [JSE:MRP] and Woolworths [JSE:WHL] gained 3.5, 3.59% and 2.45% respectively. Imperial Holdings [JSE:IPL], which has been traded under pressure recently found some relief as it gained 5.17% to close at R227.96 per share. Mining giants, Anglo American PLC and BHP Billiton [JSE:BIL] ended the day 3.13% and 2.35% firmer.
Datatec [JSE:DTC] continued to slide as it lost another 3.3% to close at R19.07 per share, whilst Lonmin [JSE:LON] ended the day 0.74% softer. EOH Holdings [JSE:EOH] and Steinhoff International [JSE:SNH] lost another 2.87% and 8.05% respectively.
On the blue-chip index, Rand hedges such as Richemont [JSE:CFR], Reinet [JSE:RNI] and British American Tobacco [JSE:BTI] came under pressure to end the day down 1.54%, 1.31% and 1% respectively. Notable moves lower were recorded in Old Mutual [JSE:OML] and Sappi [JSE:SAP] which lost 1.06% and 1.48% respectively, whilst NEPI Rockcastle [JSE:NRP] shed 2.02%.
The blue-chip JSE Top-40 Index ended the day 0.64% firmer, whilst the JSE All-Share Index gained 0.72%. All the major indices managed to close in the green with the biggest gainer being the Resources Index which gained 1.56%, whilst the Financials and Industrials indices added 0.47% and 0.48% respectively.
The Rand strengthened even more to reach a session high of R12.18/$ as US dollar weakness persisted for a third consecutive session. At 17.00 the local currency had retraced briefly and it was trading at R12.24 against the greenback.
Brent Crude struggled to regain the momentum that we have seen in recent trading sessions as the commodity reached a session low of $77.08/barrel. It was trading 0.06% weaker just after the JSE close to be recorded at $77.55/barrel.
Despite trading softer in early morning trading, Gold gained traction to reach a session high of $1326.03/Oz. At 17.00 CAT the precious metal was trading at $1322.76/Oz, up 0.05% for the day. The other precious metals particularly Platinum and Palladium, erased earlier gains to trade at $924.99/Oz and $998.40/Oz at 17.00 CAT.
Bitcoin broke below $9000 per coin in today’s trading session, and at 17.00 CAT it was trading at $8622.90 per coin. Ethereum also slid below $700 per coin to trade at $685.62 per coin just after the JSE close.