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Johannesburg - South African stocks ended lower on Monday, weighed down by mining shares such as Assore as metal prices faltered, but strong gains by Naspers and Netcare kept the overall falls in check.
Assore slumped 6.55% to R183.28 as the boost to iron ore from China's interest rate cut waned. Spot iron ore prices stayed below $70 a tonne, their lowest since 2009.
"The dollar is putting a lot pressure on a lot of commodities even after that China rate cut because China's economic fundamentals have not changed," said Mohau Mochebelele, a trader at Lehumo Capital.
The JSE Top-40 index lost 0.37% to 45 082 and the broader All-share index 0.25% to 50 727.
Gold mining stocks also featured on the decliners' list as the price of bullion edged down. AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold and Gold Fields fell between 0.2 and 3%.
"If oil remains below $80, you'll see resource shares coming lower because it is showing there is not enough demand for resources," said Greg Davies, an equities trader at Cratos Capital, adding lower oil prices were a boon for other shares because it meant lower energy costs.
Naspers gained 1.84% to 1 511.91 after Reuters reported late on Friday the media and e-commerce firm was selling its Swiss online retailer Ricardo to focus on emerging markets.
In earnings news, Netcare surged 6.9% to 35.99 after the private hospital firm reported a 20% rise in full-year profit.
Elsewhere, Hulamin jumped 3.1% to R6.96 after the aluminium products maker said it was part of a group that had signed a deal to buy a cast-house from BHP Billiton.
Trade was active, with 194 million shares changing hands, according to preliminary bourse data, well above last year's daily average of 176 million shares.
