JSE closes at record high
Fri, 09 May 2008
The JSE rocketed to a new all time high of 32 153.480 points before close on Thursday boosted by buoyant miners and resources stocks. A weaker rand and positive quarterly earnings contributed to the gains.
The JSE's all share index collected 0.81 percent.
Resources jumped 2.09 percent, the gold and platinum mining indices shot up 2.09 and 2.03 percent respectively.
Financials edged up 0.18 percent but banks and industrials shed 0.06 percent and 0.76 percent respectively.
Resources giant BHP Billiton jumped to a new intraday record high of 294.50 rand, but retreated slightly to close at 293.50 rand, up 2.62 percent while Anglo American collected 4.51 rand to 512.51 rand.
Synthetic fuel producer Sasol rose 3.70 rand to 481 rand on the back of soaring oil prices.
Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti added 1.34 percent to 295 rand, Gold Fields gained 2.52 percent to 104.67 rand.
Harmony earlier reported a jump in its three month March-quarter performance of R345-million in net profit versus net profit of R46-million for the December-quarter. Headline earnings per share were 42 cents versus the 43 cents headline loss per share for the December-quarter. Harmony’s stock price shot up 3.49 percent to 92 rand.
Platinum heavyweight Angloplat was unmoved at 1265 rand while Impala Platinum lifted 148 cents to 331.48 rand.
Lonmin earlier reported a boost in first half profits of 68 percent. Net profit before special items jumped to $207-million for the six months to end March compared with $123-million during the first half of 2007. The platinum producer’s stock price soared 6.46 percent to 505.99 rand.
Cellular phone operator MTN Group dropped 2.22 percent to 154.50 rand, following a week’s record-breaking performance amid takeover talks.
Among banking stocks, Nedbank retreated 2.28 percent to 111.40 rand while Standard Bank shed 0.6 percent to 89 rand.
Old Mutual plc earlier reported net client cash inflows of £2.1-billion for the three months to end March. The life assurance group’s stock price slipped 11 cents to 18.63 rand.
