THE JSE ended in the red yesterday amid negative sentiment in the US, while Greece’s fiscal concerns also returned to haunt markets.
The JSE all share index closed down 0,4%, with platinum miners 2,44% lower and resources 0,36% softer. Gold miners added 0,29%.
Banks were 0,44% softer, financials also shed 0,44% and the industrial index moved down 0,43%.
A local equities trader said: “The JSE is tracking sovereign debt concerns in Europe, with Greece back in the news, while in the US markets are lower amid some poor company results.”
(AGL) and its subsidiaries, Anglo Platinum (AMS) and Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) reported solid first quarter production figures.
Kumba Iron Ore , which is 64% owned by Anglo American (AGL), reported a 23% increase in total production year-on-year (y/y) to 11.5 million metric tonnes with export volumes increasing by 21% to 9.3 million tonnes while domestic sales were up 7% to 1.6 million tonnes.
Anglo Platinum reported that equivalent ounces from mining and the purchase of concentrate was 594,700 ounces in the first quarter, a fall of 3% on a year earlier and 1.5% below the prior quarter.
Mined production from own operations was 378,200 platinum ounces, some 28,200 lower than the comparable period in 2009 which included the 31,000 equivalent refined platinum ounce reduction from the shafts placed on care and maintenance during the second and third quarters of 2009.
But the world's largest platinum producer said it remains on track to produce 2.5 million ounces of refined platinum this year despite a dip in output in the first three months.
Anglo American's other commodities showed a moderate recovery with copper and nickel production up 7% and diamond production increasing to 7 million carats to meet strengthening market demand.
While thermal coal production dipped 2%, output of metallurgical coal climbed by 32%.
On the JSE, resources giant, Anglo American (AGL) was 63c higher at R324,70, while BHP Billiton (BIL) was off 79c at R242,93. Sasol (SOL) was up 80c to R298,90.
Among platinum miners, Anglo Platinum was R3 lower at R815, Impala Platinum (IMP) dipped R8,30, or 3,87%, to R205,90, and Lonmin (LON) shed R3, or 1,32%, to R224.
Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) added 50c to R289, and Gold Fields (GFI) climbed R1, or 1,06%, higher to R95,50.
Harmony (HAR) was down 85c to R68,65. Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) shipped R8,11, or 2,23%, to R355,39, and diversified miner Exxaro (EXX) was down R1,70, or 1,3%, to R129.
Arcelormittal (ACL) wavered R2, or 2,2%, to R89. Assore (ASR) shipped R10, or 1,25%, to R790.
Among industrials, SABMiller (SAB) was up R3,70, or 1,62%, to R232,28, but Imperial (IPL) shed R2,03, or 2,03%, to R97,97, and Bidvest (BVT) lost R1,34 to R134,42.
Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) weakened 50c, or 1,53%, to R32,19.
Among banks and financials, Nedbank (NED) was R1,30 lower at R133,38.
Of the telecommunications companies, MTN was R2,87, or 2,6%, worse off at R107,51, but Vodacom (VOD) picked up 55c, or 1%, to R55,75. ICT company Business Connexion (BCX) jumped 15c, or 2,52%, to R610.
Among construction firms, Murray & Roberts (MUR) declined R1, or 2,27%, to R43.
Among retailers, Clicks Group (CLS) lost 55c, or 1,74%, to R31,05.
Foschini (FOS) was down R1,05, or 1,52%, to R68,20, Woolies (WHL) declined 45c, or 1,88%, to R23,50, Massmart (MSM) slipped R1,55, or 1,41%, down to R108,45, and Mr Price (MPC) dropped 74c, or 1,74%, to R41,76. Pick n Pay (PIK) shed R1,79, or 4,05%, to R42,40, along with Spar (SPP) R1,13, or 1,44%, lower at R77,27.
Media group Naspers N (NPN) gathered R1,45 to R305, and Avusa (AVU) profited R1,33, or 6,95%, to R20,48.
Tongaat Hulett (TON) fell R2,80, or 2,62%, to R104.
Astrapak (APK) weakened 48c, or 3,7%, to R12,49. Sun International (SUI) moved R1,87, or 1,99%, lower to R92,32.
South African near-dated futures ended lower yesterday following negative corporate data from the US.
The market was also weighed down by new data showing that Greece’s public deficit for last year increased to 13,6% of gross domestic product, and news that its rating has been downgraded.
The local near-dated Alsi contract closed 128 points, or 0,49%, lower at 26178.
A total of 39132 contracts changed hands, from 26926 on Wednesday.
Local white maize prices ended mixed yesterday amid light trade ahead of the crop estimate committee report.
The May white maize contract lost R5 to R1111 a ton, the July contract was flat at R1116 a ton and the September maize contract eked out R2 to R1147 a ton.
The May wheat contract garnered R11 to R2190 and the July contract rose R12 to R2213.
The September 2010 wheat contract pocketed R19 to R2251 a ton.
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