The JSE tracked global markets south, albeit by a modest 0.17% to 65,988.12 points, as rising energy costs stoked inflation fears and commodities took a breather.
Platinum counters were flying the flag in a mixed commodity market, with Eastplats (+12.47%) and Implats (+3.85) leading the gains as they tracked the platinum price (last up 0.59% at $1,017.50/oz) higher. Angloplat (+1.62%), Northam (+0.93%) and Barplats (+1.59%) also gained.
Palladium and Brent crude took a breather from their recent robust run, giving back 2.65% and 0.23% to last trade at $2,058/oz and $83.50 a barrel. Gold gained 0.45% to $1,761.92.
Building and materials maker PPC (+6.37%) and peer Sephaku (+26.42%) continued to string in the gains after the Treasury banned the use of imported cement on all government-funded projects.
Bargain hunters scooped up previous-session losers Bytes (+8.52%) and Steinhoff (+3.38%).
On the downside, Sasol was among the biggest losers, slipping 5.58% amid a drop in oil prices.
Bourse heavyweights Naspers and Prosus, which have huge exposure to Tencent, tracked the Chinese tech giant down, losing 2.25% and 1.67% respectively.
In the currency market the rand firmed to under R15 against the US dollar despite the greenback trading on the front foot. The local unit, which drew support from a rebound in manufacturing production following the July unrest, was last trading at R14.94/$.
Indicators as at 17:00
Currencies
USDZAR 14.9739
EURUSD 1.1547
EURZAR 17.2852
GBPUSD 1.3601
GBPZAR 20.3599
AUDZAR 11.0085
CADZAR 12.0188
CNYZAR 2.3211
ZARJPY 7.5863
CHFZAR 16.1117
USDAOA 596.80
Bonds and equities
R186 7.92%
US 10 Year 1.60%
JSE -0.20%
FTSE -0.23%
S&P 500 -0.03%
Commodities
Gold $1 762.60
Plat $1 013.72
Plad $2 083.37
Rhod $13 790.00
Irid $4 890.00
Ruth $648.00
Copp $9 585.50
Brent $83.62
Iron Ore 62.5% $130.24
Coal API4 $235.00
Gold ZAR R26 388.06
Plat ZAR R15 176.50
