JSE ends lower as global markets wilt under dollar pressure
by Ray Faure,
2016-03-24 18:41:34.0
THE JSE closed weaker on Thursday in line with global markets as shares and commodities came under pressure from a stronger dollar amid talk of the prospect of more than one US rate hike this year.
St Louis US Federal Reserve Bank president James Bullard suggested on Wednesday that an interest rate rise as early as April was possible, propelling the greenback towards its fifth straight day of gains. Equity investors tend to dislike any hint of US policy tightening.
At 5pm the JSE all share index was down 0.47% at 52,323.80 points and the blue-chip top 40 index was 0.57% softer. At one stage on Thursday the all share index was down almost 1.5%.
Banks and financials led the declines, down 2.15% and 1.41% respectively. The platinum index was up 2.70% and gold miners firmed 0.89%.
European markets were lower, with the Paris CAC 40 declining 1.87% and the German Dax 30 giving back 1.36%. The FTSE 100 was down 1.39% and the Dow Jones industrial average was 0.4% weaker.
Among individual shares on the JSE, Anglo American fell 1.33% to R110.22 and Kumba Iron Ore shed 6.49% to R72.
Impala Platinum gained 5.89% to R45.50.
Among banking counters, Standard Bank declined 3.19% to R125.40 and FirstRand gave back 2.24% to R44.95. RMB Holdings was down 2.24% at R57.64.
Financial services group MMI Holdings slumped 5.35% to R23.90.
Pick n Pay added 2.58% to R65.65, while rival, Spar added 0.23% to R190.73.
Property stocks were mixed with Growthpoint down 4.16% to R24.44 and Redefine lost 2.55%, while Intu added 2.52% to R70.
Picture: MICHAEL ETTERSHANK
THE JSE closed weaker on Thursday in line with global markets as shares and commodities came under pressure from a stronger dollar amid talk of the prospect of more than one US rate hike this year.
St Louis US Federal Reserve Bank president James Bullard suggested on Wednesday that an interest rate rise as early as April was possible, propelling the greenback towards its fifth straight day of gains. Equity investors tend to dislike any hint of US policy tightening.
At 5pm the JSE all share index was down 0.47% at 52,323.80 points and the blue-chip top 40 index was 0.57% softer. At one stage on Thursday the all share index was down almost 1.5%.
Banks and financials led the declines, down 2.15% and 1.41% respectively. The platinum index was up 2.70% and gold miners firmed 0.89%.
European markets were lower, with the Paris CAC 40 declining 1.87% and the German Dax 30 giving back 1.36%. The FTSE 100 was down 1.39% and the Dow Jones industrial average was 0.4% weaker.
Among individual shares on the JSE, Anglo American fell 1.33% to R110.22 and Kumba Iron Ore shed 6.49% to R72.
Impala Platinum gained 5.89% to R45.50.
Among banking counters, Standard Bank declined 3.19% to R125.40 and FirstRand gave back 2.24% to R44.95. RMB Holdings was down 2.24% at R57.64.
Financial services group MMI Holdings slumped 5.35% to R23.90.
Pick n Pay added 2.58% to R65.65, while rival, Spar added 0.23% to R190.73.
Property stocks were mixed with Growthpoint down 4.16% to R24.44 and Redefine lost 2.55%, while Intu added 2.52% to R70.
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