JSE flat, looking overbought

Johannesburg - While maintaining a firm undertone amid improved global risk appetite, the JSE was flat in midday trade on Friday with traders saying it was looking a bit overbought after its recent good run.

A strong rand was also capping any real gains.

Markets are also cautious ahead of the release of US jobs data later today.

At noon the JSE all share index was flat (+0.08%), with resources (-0.05%), platinum miners (O.0%) and industrials (0.07%) also flat. Gold miners however were down 0.72%. Banks and financials on the other hand were up 0.97% and 0.34% respectively.

The rand was bid at R7.46 to the dollar, from R7.44 seen at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 136.21 a troy ounce from $1 134.18 at the JSE's last close. Platinum was at $1 578/oz from $1 573.50/oz at the JSE's last close.

"There is still a positive undertone to the market, but it feels a bit toppish right now. We had quite a good run recently and the market might be a bit over-extended," a local equities trader said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that European stocks were modestly higher on Friday ahead of key US employment data, with gains in the basic resources and banking sector lending support.

"We are getting pulled higher by strength in the heavyweight miners and banks this morning," said Joshua Raymond, market analyst at City Index.

By 09:00 GMT, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.4% at 253.92. London's FTSE 100 index was 0.5% higher at 5533.71, Frankfurt's DAX index was up 0.4% at 5815.75, and the CAC-40 index in Paris was 0.5% higher at 3845.68.

Nevertheless, a cautious tone remains. "Moves higher may be kept on a leash, however, as all eyes are on nonfarm payrolls and US unemployment this afternoon, which are likely to dictate how equities finish off for the week," said Raymond. "If we get a disappointing number, this could convince investors to reduce their holdings after a strong equity run," he added.

Nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate are due at 13:30 GMT. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect the payrolls release data to show a 75 000 decline, and a 9.8% unemployment rate.

In Asia, share markets were higher, boosted by US gains, and with stocks in Tokyo powering higher on hopes the Bank of Japan would ease policy further. A Nikkei report said the Bank will likely consider more monetary easing through April, including the expansion of fund-provision measures introduced in December.

Nonetheless, traders were cautious, unwilling to add significantly to their portfolios ahead of key US non-farm payrolls data.

Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up 2.2%, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.2%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 1.1%.

- I-Net Bridge