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Johannesburg - South African stocks followed European and Asian markets lower on Monday, snapping a week of gains after a long weekend break on renewed concerns about Chinese growth and finances.
Decliners included Johannesburg-listed shares of global mining group Anglo American, which fell 3.1% to R71.82.
Anglo's platinum unit, Anglo American Platinum, was the biggest loser among the blue chips, falling 5% to close at R189.75, as the price of the precious metal slipped 0.5% to $877 an ounce. It is hovering above 7-year lows.
Overall, the market followed the path blazed by global peers after data showed profits at Chinese industrial companies in November fell 1.4% from a year earlier, marking a sixth consecutive month of decline and another sign that the world's chief engine of growth is sputtering.
The benchmark Top-40 share index shed 0.24% to 46 243.42 points. The broader All-share index declined 0.26% to 51 188.72 points.
Trade was weak, with 83 million shares changing hands, preliminary bourse data showed, well below last year's daily average of 183 million.
The rand was almost 1% lower at R15.2875 to the dollar. Government bonds were softer, with the benchmark paper due in 2026 adding 10.5 basis points to 9.595%.
The rand is on track to end 2015 close to 25% weaker against the dollar as economic fundamentals worsened, exacerbated by the shock firing of former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene this month as well as lower global demand.
