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Rand firm on Greece news
April 30, 2010--The rand remained on the front foot on Friday afternoon amid a stronger euro on news of an imminent rescue package for Greece.
The local currency was attracting good bids at 7.31-32 against the dollar, a local forex trader said.
At 15.35 the rand was bid at 7.3318 to the dollar from 7.3573 at ts previous close. It was bid at 9.7759 to the euro from its previous close of 9.7667 and was at 11.2167 against the sterling from 11.2975.
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Source: FIN24
Bonds follow rand firmer
April 30, 2010--Bonds retained their firmer tone on Friday, in line with the stronger rand and as some degree of calm returned to international markets.
By noon the short-term government R154 bond was bid at 6.550% and offered at 6.570% after closing at 6.565% on Thursday, and the medium-term R157 was at 7.770% from 7.800% at its previous close. The long-term R186 was bid at 8.735% and offered at 8.710% from 8.750% previously.
The rand was bid at R7.3131 to the dollar from R7.3573 at its previous close.
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Source: FIN24
JSE tracks global sentiment lower
April 23, 2010--The JSE ended in the red on Thursday amid negative sentiment in the US, while Greece's fiscal concerns also returned to haunt markets.
The JSE all share index closed down 0.40%, with platinum miners 2.44% lower and resources 0.36% softer. Gold miners added 0.29%. Banks were 0.44% softer, financials also shed 0.44% and the industrial index moved down 0.43%.
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Source: FIN24
Rand in tight range, eyes New York
April 23, 2010--The South African rand was in a tight range of 7.45-7.50 against the dollar on Friday afternoon, having earlier tracked a stronger euro away from 7.50.
At 15.35 the rand was bid at 7.4784 to the dollar from 7.4458 at its previous close. It was bid at 9.9131 to the euro from its previous close of 9.8911 and was at 11.4311 against the sterling from 11.4484.
The euro was bid at $1.3271 from $1.3268 previously.
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Source: FIN24
Rate cuts comments hurt bonds
April 23, 2010--Bond yields weakened by between 6.5 and 18 basis points on Thursday after South African Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus said that the scope for a further easing in rates was limited.
A sharply weaker rand and some profit-taking also added to the weakness.
By 16:05 the short-term government R154 bond was bid at 6.655% and offered at 6.635% after closing at 6.455% on Wednesday, and the medium-term R157 was at 7.795% from 7.700% at its previous close. The long-term R186 was bid at 8.750% and offered at 8.725% from 8.660% previously.
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Source: FIN24
IMF Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa Is Optimistic about Growth Prospects
April 23, 2010--The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today released the April 2010 Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa. Ms. Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, Director of the IMF's African Department commented on the report's main findings:
“The economic slowdown in sub-Saharan Africa looks set to be mercifully brief. Output is projected to expand by 4¾ percent in 2010, compared to 2 percent in 2009. Provided the global economy continues to improve, growth in the region should accelerate further still to 5¾ percent in 2011.
“The impact of the global financial crisis on countries in the region was quite varied. Output levels in most middle-income countries were dragged down by the sharp fall in export volumes in early 2009 as world demand collapsed. Growth in oil-exporting countries also decelerated sharply, partly reflecting the drop in oil prices. In contrast, many low-income countries escaped fairly lightly, with some fragile economies actually experiencing a small acceleration in output growth in 2009.
“The relatively limited nature of the region’s slowdown owes much to the health of the region’s economies heading into 2008–09 and the countercyclical macroeconomic policies that were pursued in many countries. Nearly two-thirds of countries experiencing a slowdown in 2009 were able to increase government spending to buttress economic activity. Policy interest rates were also reduced in most countries. .
view report-Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa
Investors drive JSE lower The rand was bid at R7.35 to the dollar from R7.29 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 156.43 a troy ounce from $1,159.91/oz at the JSE's last close. Platinum was at $1 721/oz from $1 717/oz at the JSE's last close.
After opening softer on Friday, the JSE continued to trade lower on profit-taking.
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Rand follows weak euro
The euro was bid at $1.3510 from $1.3571 previously.
Foreign buyers boost bonds
The rand was bid at R7.36 to the dollar from R7.2933 at its previous close. read more
JSE lifted by global counterparts
Banks were 1.55% firmer, financials added 1.04% and the industrial index picked up 0.78%.
The rand was bid at 7.25 to the dollar, from 7.27 at the JSE's close on Thursday.
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Source: IMF
April 16, 2010--The JSE was lower in noon trade on Friday as investors cashed in on this week's good run.
At 12:00 the JSE all share index was off 0.49%, with resources 0.79% softer, gold miners off 0.83% and platinum miners 0.74% weaker. Banks were 0.17% lower, financials dipped 0.12%, while the industrial index edged down 0.44%.
The rand was bid at R7.35 to the dollar from R7.29 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 156.43 a troy ounce from $1,159.91/oz at the JSE's last close. Platinum was at $1 721/oz from $1 717/oz at the JSE's last close.
After opening softer on Friday, the JSE continued to trade lower on profit-taking.
At 12:00 the JSE all share index was off 0.49%, with resources 0.79% softer, gold miners off 0.83% and platinum miners 0.74% weaker. Banks were 0.17% lower, financials dipped 0.12%, while the industrial index edged down 0.44%.
Source: FIN24
April 16, 2010--The rand remained on the back foot on Friday afternoon as the euro succumbed one again to worries over the Greek debt situation.
At 15:50 the rand was bid at R7.36 to the dollar from R7.2933 at its previous close. It was bid at R9.9696 to the euro from its previous close of R9.9022 and was at R11.3712 against the sterling from R11.2750.
Source: FIN24
April 16, 2010--Bonds remained up to eight basis points firmer in late trade on Friday with traders attributing the strength to strong foreign buying which has dominated trade this week.
By 15:45 the short-term government R154 bond was bid at 6.540% and offered at 6.675% after closing at 6.605% on Thursday and the medium-term R157 was bid at 7.775% and offered at 7.765% from 7.850% at its previous close. The long-term R186 was bid at 8.750% and offered at 8.730% from 8.775% previously.
Source: FIN24
April 9, 2010--The JSE ended firmly in the black on Friday amid positive global sentiment and firm commodity prices.
At 17:00, the JSE all share index was up 1.13%, with resources 1.49% firmer and platinum miners gaining 1.24%. Gold miners found 1.16%.
Source: FIN24
