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Mining shares led the upside‚ benefiting from the rise in commodity prices as the US dollar weakened against major currencies.
“The dollar is under pressure and risk assets are gaining following the Fed minutes that suggest we’ll see QE3 in September. But this morning’s weak Chinese PMI data and the negative headlines over the (Lonmin) mine issue may hold the rand back so it’s far from assured that $/ZAR will be able to break‚ never mind sustain below‚ 8.20‚” said RMB analysts in a note.
At 12:52 local time the all-share index was up 0.67% to 35 854.90 points‚ with top-40 index up 0.72% and resources lifting 1.34%.
Among individual shares‚ Anglo American [JSE:AGL] rallied R5.89 or 2.35%‚ to R256.75‚ Amplats [JSE:AMS] added R9.50‚ or 2.21%‚ to R438.50 and Aquarius Platinum [JSE:AQP] rose 25 cents‚ or 4.90%‚ to R5.35.
Kumba Iron Ore [JSE:KIO] was up R12.52‚ or 2.27%‚ to R565.02 and Assore surged R16.86‚ or 5.41%‚ to R328.36 after the base minerals and metals group said late on Wednesday it expected its headline earnings per share in the year ended June 2012 to rise between R33 and R37‚ compared with R26.90 in the prior comparable period.
In banking stocks‚ ABSA [JSE:ASA] improved R3.50‚ or 2.52%‚ to R142.50.
