Johannesburg – South African bonds
were firmer in afternoon trade on Tuesday on the back of foreign
demand.
“We saw good foreign demand come
through in the afternoon‚ even though US retail sales came in
better than expected‚ which is normally bond negative‚” a local
trader said.
At 15:30‚ the benchmark R157 bond was
trading at 5.625% from Monday’s close of 5.660% and Friday’s
close of 5.620%‚ the R207 was bid at 6.645% and offered at 6.635%
from its previous close of 6.635% and the R186 was trading at 7.420%
from its previous close of 7.440%.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that US
retail sales rose for the first time in four months in July‚
raising hopes that consumers may start spending at a slightly faster
pace.
"Today's report shows that part of
the 'weather-related' softness registered in 2Q is now behind us‚"
said Newedge Strategy‚ adding "the upward trend in retail
activity might have resumed."
Foreigners were net sellers of
R827.382m of South African bonds including repo transactions on
Monday after net purchases of R3.248bn of local bonds on Friday‚
data released by the JSE show.
Nominal cumulative volume was R88.472bn
on Monday from R41.225bn on Friday.
Foreigners were net sellers of R1.073bn
of local bonds excluding repo transactions on Monday after net sales
of R391.622m of local bonds on Friday.
For the year to date foreigners have
been net buyers of R65.265bn of local bonds‚ excluding repo
transactions. In 2011 they were net buyers of R47.359bn worth of
local bonds‚ excluding repo transactions.
In the year to date foreigners have
been net buyers of R66.912bn of local bonds including repo
transactions. In 2011 they bought R37.501bn worth of local bonds.