The JSE closed softer on Monday following a rather dormant trading session.

The local index struggled to find a catalyst for direction due to the closure of US and UK markets for a public holiday. The day was very subdued in terms of economic data both locally and on the international front.

In terms of earnings results, Tongaat Hulett [JSE:TON], Telkom [JSE:TKG] and Reunert [JSE:RLO] released their results which mostly disappointed. As a result the 3 stocks lost 2.75%, 3.6% and 4.6% respectively. Gold miners, Harmony Gold [JSE:HAR] and Gold Fields [JSE:GFI] traded under pressure due to the weaker Gold metal prices, which saw the stocks losing 6.46% and 1.77% respectively.

Aveng’s [JSE:AEG] slumped to reach a new all-time low of 30 cents per share after it had managed to open at 45 cents per share. The stock closed at 38 cents per share, down 11.63% for the day. Retailers, Massmart [JSE:MSM] and Truworths [JSE:TRU] shed 0.85% and 1.15% respectively, NEPI Rockcastle [JSE:NRP] and Resilient [JSE:RES] closed 1.25% and 2.52% weaker.

African Rainbow Investments [JSE:AIL] relinquished most of its earlier gains to close 1.25% higher, whilst Life Healthcare [JSE:LHC] managed to gain 3.22%. Mondi Ltd [JSE:MND] and Mondi PLC [JSE:MNP] gained 2.19% and 2.05% respectively, whilst Rhodes Food Group [JSE:RFG] and Long4Life [JSE:L4L] firmed by 4.07% and 2.61% respectively.

British American Tobacco [JSE:BTI] and Reinet [JSE:RNI] managed to gain 0.91% and 1.73% respectively, whilst Aspen [JSE:APN] managed to gain 2.92% to close at R252.97 per share. Shoprite [JSE:SHP] bucked the trend recorded in other retailers to end the day 1.11% firmer.

The JSE All-Share Index eventually closed 0.10% weaker, whilst the JSE Top-40 Index only gained 0.02%. The Resources and Financials Indices lost 0.54% and 0.22% respectively, however the Industrials Index managed to add 0.27%.

The Rand strengthened against the US dollar despite the greenback trading firmer. After reaching a session high of R12.42/$, the Rand retraced marginally to trade at R12.44/$ at 17.00 CAT.

Gold broke below $1300/Oz to reach a session low of $1295.60/Oz mainly on the back of the stronger US dollar. The precious metal was trading at $1298.84/Oz at 17.00 CAT. Contrary to the direction in Gold, Platinum and Palladium traded firmer on the day to trade at $904.64/Oz and $982.01/Oz at 17.00 CAT.

Brent Crude continued to trade softer as it lost more than 2% to reach a session low of $74.49/barrel. It staged a small recovery to trade at $75.27/barrel just after the JSE close.

Ethereum slid by more than 6% to trade at $530.50 per coin at 17.00 CAT, however the slide in Bitcoin was milder as the coin was down just over 1% to trade at $7255.40 per coin.