16 September 2005
Johannesburg — THE JSE roared to a record high yesterday boosted by higher commodity prices and a weaker rand.
The afternoon's futures closeout made for huge volumes.
The all share index closed 1,03% higher at 16148,66 after earlier touching a historic high of 16217,64.
Resources rallied 2,28%, with the gold and platinum mining indices surging 4,64% and 3,09% respectively.
Industrials climbed 0,51%. Financials were flatter (-0,04%), while the banks index dipped 0,08%.
On the all share index, 88 shares were up, 21 were unchanged and 49 were down. There were 22 advancers on the Top 40 index and 19 decliners.
A dealer said the JSE had been driven higher by strong commodity prices and a weaker rand.
"I think gold and platinum would have gone higher if their gains weren't moderated by dollar strength," he said.
The dealer said Richemont had also contributed to the JSE's strength after it released strong sales numbers before the opening.
Richemont shares soared 3,33% to R26,06 after earlier trading at a best level since April 2002 of R26,24.
Other industrials to perform strongly included Illovo Sugar, which leapt 4,03% to R9,80.
Furniture group Steinhoff firmed 4,03% to R19,35.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi was 1,61% stronger at R75,70 while construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts rose 1,63% to R18,65. Aveng added 1,95% to R15,19 after reaching a record R15,20.
On the resources index, petrochemicals group Sasol climbed 2,75% to R224, Anglo American advanced 1,37% to R170,45 and BHP Billiton was 1,83% better at R97,60.
Gold Fields rocketed 6,5% to R82,05, Harmony was 5,84% higher at R58,16 and AngloGold Ashanti gained 2,13% to R255,27 after trading at a highest level of R263,89 since April last year.
Angloplat was up 3,35% at R323,50 and Impala leaped 3,08% to R721,03.
Standard Bank was 59c in the black at R70,69 and Investec climbed 1,81% to R237,01.
On the JSE's downside, cellular network operator MTN Group dropped 1,56% to R47,25.
Transport and logistics group Imperial, which reached a record high of R129 earlier in the day, slipped 2,13% o R124,30.
PP Cement weakened 1,03% to R282,90. Mittal Steel shed 46c to R49,19 and iron-ore miner Kumba was down 1,17% at R84,50.
Banking group FirstRand fell 1,19% to R16,55, while Absa surrendered 1,32% to R93,25.
Financial services group Sanlam slid 1,86% to R13,20 and Old Mutual was 7c in the red at R15,82. I-Net Bridge
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