Firmer rand targets R8.20/$
August 21, 2012--The rand was on a firmer footing against major currencies in late trade, tracking global risk themes, as the negative effects of the Lonmin mine shootings on the local currency receded in the background.
At 16:00 time the rand was trading at R8.2207/$ from Monday’s close of R8.3197. It was trading at R10.2513/€ from its previous close of R10.2714 and at R12.9629/£ from R13.0688 before.
The euro was bid at US$1.2470 from $1.2350.
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Source: FIN24
JSE closes weaker
August 20, 2012--The JSE closed weaker, with gold miners leading the downside. Lonmin [JSE:LON] and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited [JSE:HAR] are still under pressure, which pulled their respective indices down.
Lonmin shed R3.32‚ or 3.99%‚ to R79.98 and Harmony lost R4.94‚ or 6.15%‚ to R75.42.
Lonmin has delayed suspending workers who had not returned to work on Monday‚ deferring the deadline to Tuesday morning. Last week 44 people were killed in clashes between police and rival unions at the company’s platinum mine in Marikana. Harmony‚ SA’s third-largest gold producer‚ last week posted results that fell below analysts’ estimates.
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Source: FIN24
Rand slightly stronger in midday trade
August 20, 2012--The rand was slightly firmer in midday trade on Monday with the local currency was still feeling the impact of the Lonmin violence from last week.
"The current bout of weakness in the rand is most readily ascribed to the Lonmin [JSE:LON] violence. As soon as this abates‚ I’m sure the rand will strengthen again‚ based on other current market indicators‚” said Mark Kalkwarf‚ a portfolio manager from Iquad.
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Source: FIN24
Absa to list gold ETF on Ghana Stock Exchange
The GSE's managing director says the listing of Absa Capital's gold-backed NewGold ETF will broaden the exchange's range of products beyond equities and bonds.
August 21, 2012--The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) will list Absa Capital's gold-backed NewGold exchange traded fund on Wednesday, marking the bourse's first ETF, officials said on Tuesday.
The listing is intended to broaden the exchange's range of products beyond equities and bonds, its managing director, Kofi Yamoah, said.
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Source: MineWeb
Nigeria to overhaul oil industry
August 19, 2012--It was the year the world became acquainted with Barack Obama, when "tweet" was labelled a buzzword by Time magazine-and when legislation was introduced to overhaul Africa's biggest oil industry.
That was way back in 2008, and many deadlines set by Nigeria's government to carry out the oil reforms have passed without action, creating uncertainty that has limited new investment, threatening future output.
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Source: FIN24
JSE closes lower- banks weigh
August 17, 2012--The JSE closed weaker on Friday with all the main indices closing in negative territory, while the platinum price made strong gains on the back of violence at Lonmin's Marikana mine this week.
At 17:10, the platinum price had gained 2.06% to trade at $1‚462.50 due to supply concerns. SA supplies 80% of global platinum demand.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds weaker on US concerns
August 17, 2012--South African bonds were weaker in afternoon trade on Friday after US institutions sold SA assets on concerns that the crisis at Marikana could escalate.
"We were trading steady in the morning‚ but when the US entered trading this afternoon‚ the rand gapped and our bonds followed‚” a local trader said.
At 15:42‚ the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 5.705% from 5.660% at 11.35am‚ Thursday’s close of 5.655% and Wednesday’s close of 5.670%‚ the R207 was bid at 6.790% and offered at 6.760% from its previous close of 6.725% and the R186 was trading at 7.650% from its previous close of 7.575%.
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Source: FIN24
JSE closes firmer on US data
August 16, 2012--The JSE closed firmer on Thursday picking up momentum near the close, with gold miners and resources leading the upside.
“The JSE was picking up momentum as we were getting into the close on the back of much better economic data out of US‚” said David Shapiro‚ director at Sasfin Securities.
“There was an overall better feel to the market today and it was not a bad trading day at all‚” he added.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds tad firmer on rand recovery
August 16, 2012--South African bonds were a touch firmer in afternoon trade on Thursday on the back of a recovery in the rand.
“The US housing data was worse than expected so the dollar lost against the euro‚ which helped the rand to strengthen and that gave a boost to our bond market‚” a local trader said.
At 15:46‚ the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 5.650% from 5.670% at Wednesday’s close. The R207 was bid at 6.725% and offered at 6.705% from its previous close of 6.740% and the R186 was trading at 7.570% from its previous close of 7.560%.
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Source: FIN24
JSE closes a fraction lower
August 15, 2012--The JSE closed a tad softer on Wednesday, in line with weaker worldwide equity markets and due to investors booking gains from recent rallies.
The all-share index ended down 0.06% at 35 543.93 points‚ with gains in industrial stocks offering some support‚ while banks led the declines‚ with the index shedding 1.14%‚ and one of its biggest components‚ Nedbank‚ slipping 1.77% to R182.31.
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Source: FIN24