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Rand loses ground after euro retraces
June 11, 2012--The rand retreated in afternoon trade on Monday after gains in the morning as a possible Moody's downgrade of Spanish debt dampened the euro. The local currency tends to take direction from the euro as the eurozone is one of South Africa's biggest trading partners.
At 16:12 the rand was bid at R8.3958 to the dollar from Friday’s close of R8.3147. It was bid at R10.5285 to the euro from its previous close of R10.5058 on Friday and at R13.0413 against sterling from R12.9228 at its previous close. The euro was bid at US$1.2542 from Friday’s close of $1.2636.
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Source: FIN24
SA to join Citi world bond index
June 11, 2012--South Africa will join Citi's influential World Government Bond Index (WGBI) from October, the US bank said on Monday, conferring an important seal of approval on the continent's biggest economy after recent credit outlook downgrades.
Citi said 11 of South Africa's government bonds worth $83bn had met the WGBI's entry requirements for three straight months, allowing it to accede to the index later this year.
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Source: FIN24
Global growth jitters weigh on JSE
June 8, 2012--The JSE ended weaker on Friday, with general mining shares coming under more selling pressure, amid global economic growth concerns.
At 17:00 local time‚ the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index was down 0.71% to 33 665.71 points‚ with resources losing 1.78%‚ platinum counters shedding 2.60% while gold counters edged up 0.14%.
Financials eased off 0.25%‚ banking stocks were 0.56% in the red‚ while industrials slipped 0.18%.
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Source: FIN24
Rand weaker ahead of Chinese data
June 8, 2012--The rand was weaker in afternoon trade on Friday, tracking global markets, ahead of Chinese data to be released this weekend.
Analysts said the was concern that China’s interest rate cut earlier in the week was a pre-move action ahead of poor data.
At 15:44 the rand was bid at R8.4624 to the dollar from Thursday’s close of R8.3966. It was bid at R10.5294 to the euro from its previous close of R10.5495 on Thursday and at R13.0333 against sterling from R13.0361 at its previous close. The euro was bid at $1.2449 from Thursday’s close of $1.2567.
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Source: FIN24
IMF Working Paper-The Relationship between the Foreign Exchange Regime and Macroeconomic Performance in Eastern Africa
June 7, 2012--Summary: This study examines the relationship between the foreign exchange regime and macroeconomic performance in Eastern Africa. The study focuses on seven countries, five of which decisively liberalized their foreign exchange regimes.
The study assesses the relationship between (i) growth and various determinants, including the exchange regime, the real exchange rate, and current account liberalization; and (ii) inflation and various determinants, including lagged inflation, the nominal exchange rate, the exchange regime, and liberalization. We find that in our sample, for the determinants of growth, investment and the real exchange rate are significant determinants but not the exchange regime or liberalization; and for inflation, the lagged inflation rate, nominal exchange rate, and the de facto regime are significant. Exchange rate pass-through is limited.
SA gold stocks gain, gold miners buck trend
June 7, 2012--South African stocks ended firmer on Thursday as investors took solace in improved global sentiment but gold shares refused to be consoled, choosing instead to follow spot prices lower.
The JSE Top 40 - (Tradeable) [JSE:J200] blue-chip index closed up 0.91% at 29 947.48 and the broader All Share [JSE:J203] index gained 0.90% to 33 904.86.
Africa's largest gold producer AngloGold Ashanti was knocked 5% to R303.50 while Gold Fields fell 5.5% to R110.57.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds firm as rand strengthens
June 7, 2012--South African bonds firmed in afternoon trade on Thursday after the rand strengthened to the R8.20 per dollar level.
"Bond trading this afternoon has been driven by the stronger rand‚" a local trader said.
At 16:01‚ the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 6.230% from Wednesday’s close of 6.260%‚ Tuesday’s close of 6.330% and Monday’s close of 6.355%. The R207 was trading at 7.505% from a previous close of 7.540% and the R186 was trading at 8.240% from its close of 8.280%.
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Source: FIN24
Stockbrokers Insist on Creation of Stabilisation Fund
June 6, 2012--The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) is still pushing for the establishment of a stabilisation fund for the nation capital market as a way out of the downturn that has lasted over four years.
A senior council member of the CIS disclosed this in an interview with THISDAY last Monday, saying the forbearance being planned by the Federal Government would not solve the liquidity problem in the market.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had last week reiterated the Federal Government plan to work out a forbearance package for stockbrokers as part of measures to stimulate confidence in the Nigerian stock market and increase liquidity. Okonjo-Iweala gave the assurance at the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Arusha, Tanzania.
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Source: This Day Live
JSE in positive territory
June 6, 2012-- The JSE is firmer in midday trade on the back of much better than expected Australian gross domestic product (GDP) figures released earlier today, and also on expectation that the European Central Bank (ECB) might lower its interest rates later in the day.
At 11:39 local time‚ the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index was up 0.62% to 33‚323.06 points‚ with resources gaining 1.3%, gold counters dipping 0.10% and platinum stocks surging 1.63%.
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Source: FIN24
Rand stronger for third day
June 6, 2012--The rand gained one percent against the dollar in early Wednesday trade, strengthening for the third straight day from last week's three-year lows on the back of firmer commodity prices.
Dealers said the currency was going through a natural pull-back from oversold levels at R8.71 last week but would be likely to encounter resistance at R8.30.
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Source: FIN24
