Johannesburg - The JSE edged up at the start of trade on
Wednesday‚ tracking positive sentiment on global stock markets.
At 09:21 local time‚ the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index was
up 0.17% to 33‚175.10 points‚ with resources gaining 0.20%‚ while gold counters
shed 0.40% and platinum counters dipped 0.10%.
Financials lifted 0.43%‚ banking stocks lifted 0.54%‚ while
industrials were flat (0.05%).
The rand strengthened to R8.39 to the US dollar‚ from R8.45
at the JSE's close on Tuesday‚ while gold was quoted at $1 626.60 a troy ounce
from $1 618.91/oz at the JSE's previous close and platinum was at $1 449.70/oz‚
from $1 442.70/oz in the previous session.
“The markets are trading on the headlines at this stage.
Australia’s first-quarter GDP exceeded market expectations‚” said Martin
Strauss‚ equities dealer at PSG Konsult. “But the sentiment remains fragile as
market players continue to watch closely developments in Europe.”
Asian markets tipped higher following a positive lead from
Wall Street and after European G7 members promised a speedy response to the
eurozone's debt crisis‚ Dow Jones Newswires reported.
Japan's Nikkei was up 1.81% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index
gained 1.27%.
European share markets also opened higher‚ with the UK’s
FTSE up 0.90% as investors pinned hopes on reported efforts to corral Spain's
money troubles.