Bonds firm on weaker PMI data
September 3, 2012--South African bonds were firm in midday trade on Monday after several countries' purchasing managers index (PMI) data indicated global growth was muted.
“We have seen several countries in Asia and Europe reporting poor August PMIs‚ so that has helped our market despite the softer rand‚” a local bond trader said.
At 11:47‚ the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 5.425% from 5.480% at Friday’s close.
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Source: FIN24
West African stock markets talking integration - will they walk the talk?
September 3, 2012--West African stock exchange leaders are again talking about integrating the markets and are to form a West African Capital Market Integration Council.
The exchanges in Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire have said they will seek to integrate by 2014. Latest arrival Sierra Leone is keen to join them.
John Tei-Kitcher, Acting Director General of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), opening a 2-day forum in Accra on 23-24 August, said that WAMI would provide leadershop for integration and act as facilitator on behalf of all stakeholders. Those attending were Ghana Stock Exchange, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) of Côte d’Ivoire, which joins eight countries, and Sierra Leone Stock Exchange.
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Source: African Capital News
JSE closes higher after Bernanke
August 31, 2012--The JSE stock market closed higher on Friday after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s much anticipated speech at Jackson Hole on Friday afternoon.
Bernanke failed to announce any imminent monetary easing measures and did not outline any new steps to boost the US economy‚ but did say the stagnation in the US labour market was a “grave concern” and that the Fed still had some tools at hand and would use them if necessary.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds ease to no US quantitative easing
August 31, 2012--South African bonds eased in afternoon trade on Friday after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke signalled that there would be no further quantitative easing (QE) in the short term.
In 2010 Bernanke used the Jackson Hole conference to signal the second round of QE.
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Source: FIN24
Rand weakens after Bernanke's speech
August 31, 2012--The rand weakened against its major trading partners in late trade from the morning levels after the US central bank chief announced no additional monetary easing as most in the market had anticipated.
At 16:17‚ the rand was bid at R8.4412 to the dollar from R8.4938 at Thursday’s close. It was bid at R10.6248 to the euro from its previous close of R10.6241 and at R13.3738 against sterling from R13.4043 before.
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Source: FIN24
JSE drops to four-week closing low
August 30, 2012--The JSE share market fell across the board on Thursday to close at levels not seen in four weeks as market participants cleared their positions ahead of the Jackson Hole event on Friday, in which the US central bank chief is expected to provide some clues on monetary easing.
General mining shares in particular came under heavy selling pressure‚ which dealers ascribed in part to lower commodity prices due to signs of a slowdown in the Chinese economy.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds firm despite July R57.5bn deficit
August 30, 2012--South African bonds were firm in afternoon trade on Thursday despite a weaker rand and a R57.5bn July fiscal deficit.
“We have been trading firmer on foreign buy orders the whole day. The rand has not been a factor‚ while the fiscal deficit is volatile on a monthly basis‚ so what is important is the trend and that remains on track‚” a local bond trader said.
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Source: FIN24
Rand weaker, awaits Bernanke
August 30, 2012--The rand was weaker in late trade on Thursday, albeit off its intraday low, on the back of a Chinese economical slowdown and due to SA's own internal mining problems.
“The rand touched R8.48 around lunchtime today but has come back a bit. All commodity currencies are weaker today due to a Chinese slowdown. Locally we are still dealing with labour problems in the mining sector and the bad press overseas is not rand positive. The rand has weakened steadily over the last week. Markets are on hold until Federal Reserve Chairman
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Source: FIN24
JSE pares losses to end almost flat
August 29, 2012--The JSE share market pared early losses to finish relatively flat on Wednesday.
Resource shares in the main came under selling pressure amid diminished prospects of stimulus measures from the US Federal Reserve following the upward revision of growth in the US economy in the second quarter‚ said Rob Towell‚ senior equities trader at Consilium Securities.
US GDP grew 1.7% in the second quarter over the previous quarter‚ up from an original reading of 1.5%.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds firm on offshore interest
August 29, 2012--South African bonds were firm in afternoon trade on Wednesday on the back of offshore interest, but traders said volumes were light.
"There was no local data due today so the foreign buying moved the market‚ but basically the market is waiting until Friday’s Jackson Hole conference‚” a local bond trader said.
At 15:50‚ the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 5.510% from 5.540% at Tuesday’s close. The R207 was trading at 6.630% from Tuesday’s close of 6.640%‚ and the R186 was trading at 7.520% from 7.545%.
The rand was bid at R8.3904 per dollar from R8.3937 at Tuesday’s close.
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Source: FIN24