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Johannesburg - South Africa's stocks have ended lower on Friday with the main indices logging their biggest fall in more than a month as worries grew the US Federal Reserve would trim its stimulus programme.
Naspers topped the decliners' list on the blue-chip index, tracking a sell-off in its Chinese money spinner Tencent Holdings overnight.
Shares in the media and e-commerce firm dropped 5.2% to R10.89.61, their biggest daily percentage decline in more than two years.
"All emerging markets are being sold off today and part of it has to do with the Fed meeting next week," said Sibonginkosi Nyanga of brokerage Imara SP Reid.
"America is widely expected to cut its bond-buying programme. By how much? That uncertainty is weighing."
The benchmark JSE Top-40 index fell 1.36% to 41 739.02 and the broader All-share index was down 1.2% at 46 462.14. Both recorded their biggest daily percentage drop since December 12.
The Federal Reserve is meeting next week to discuss monetary policy of the world's biggest economy and possibly make another cut to its monthly bond purchases.
Gold shares kept the downside momentum in check as the price of the yellow metal shot up to a two-month high and remained on track for a fifth straight weekly gain.
South Africa's largest gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti, rallied 6.7% to R158, helped by news Ghana has put on hold plans to introduce windfall tax on mining profits. The company has operations in the West African country.
Decliners outnumbered advancers 197 to 104, with more than 200 million shares changing hands, according to preliminary bourse data.
Naspers topped the decliners' list on the blue-chip index, tracking a sell-off in its Chinese money spinner Tencent Holdings overnight.
Shares in the media and e-commerce firm dropped 5.2% to R10.89.61, their biggest daily percentage decline in more than two years.
"All emerging markets are being sold off today and part of it has to do with the Fed meeting next week," said Sibonginkosi Nyanga of brokerage Imara SP Reid.
"America is widely expected to cut its bond-buying programme. By how much? That uncertainty is weighing."
The benchmark JSE Top-40 index fell 1.36% to 41 739.02 and the broader All-share index was down 1.2% at 46 462.14. Both recorded their biggest daily percentage drop since December 12.
The Federal Reserve is meeting next week to discuss monetary policy of the world's biggest economy and possibly make another cut to its monthly bond purchases.
Gold shares kept the downside momentum in check as the price of the yellow metal shot up to a two-month high and remained on track for a fifth straight weekly gain.
South Africa's largest gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti, rallied 6.7% to R158, helped by news Ghana has put on hold plans to introduce windfall tax on mining profits. The company has operations in the West African country.
Decliners outnumbered advancers 197 to 104, with more than 200 million shares changing hands, according to preliminary bourse data.
