Johannesburg - The JSE Limited [JSE:JSE] kept its firmer
bias at noon on Tuesday‚ in line with leading European share
markets‚ after the eurozone second quarter gross domestic product
was in line with market expectations.
The euro region economic output fell
0.2% in the second quarter 2012‚ from the first‚ while output
fell 0.4% year on year. The data reinforced calls for further
monetary easing from the European Central Bank.
“The market is polarised between
those who are concerned about the long-term effects of the current
negative macro-economic picture‚ including eurozone problems and
those who are focused on the fundamentals to generate returns‚”
said Graeme Korner‚ portfolio manager at Korner Perspective.
The US July retail sales come into
focus this afternoon.
At 13:08 the JSE all-share index was up
0.14% to 35 468.02 points‚ with banks leading the upside‚ gaining
0.57%. The platinum index was down 0.90%.
Lonmin [JSE:LON] was down R4.41‚ or
4.67%‚ to R90.12. The world’s third-largest platinum miner is
grappling with a possible turf war between two rival unions‚ which
has left at least nine people‚ including two policemen‚ dead.
Aquarius Platinum Limited [JSE:AQP]
lost 24 cents‚ or 4.94%‚ to R4.62.
Among banks and financials‚ Nedbank
Group Limited [JSE:NED] was up R2.33 or 1.27%‚ to R185.30 and
Discovery Holding Limited [JSE:DSY] gained 60 cents‚ or 1.08%‚ to
R56.40.
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