SOUTH AFRICA MARKET REVIEW
- South African markets closed in the red yesterday, as global investors assessed weaker US manufacturing data.
- Pharmaceutical companies, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (JO:APNJ), Life Healthcare Group (JO:LHCJ) and Netcare (JO:NTCJ) edged down 13.2%, 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively.
- Platinum miners, Northam Platinum Holdings (JO:NPHJ), Anglo America Platinum (JO:AMSJ) and Impala Platinum (JO:IMPJ) dropped 7.6%, 6.3% and 6.0%, respectively.
- Gold miners, Sibanye Stillwater (JO:SSWJ), Harmony Gold Mining Co. (JO:HARJ) and AngloGold Ashanti (JO:ANGJ) shed 7.2%, 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively.
- Retailers, Shoprite Holdings (JO:SHPJ), Mr Price Group (JO:MRPJ), Pick ‘n Pay Store and Cashbuild (JO:CSBJ) declined 5.9%, 3.3%, 2.6% and 1.8%, respectively.
- The JSE All Share index declined 1.6% to close at 82,156.75.
UK MARKET REVIEW
- The UK market finished weaker yesterday, amid sell-off in commodity-linked stocks.
- Miners, Fresnillo (LON:FRES), Antofagasta (LON:ANTO), Glencore (LON:GLEN) and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) dropped 5.6%, 4.6%, 3.7% and 2.2%, respectively.
- Energy companies, BP (LON:BP) and Shell (LON:RDSa) declined 3.2% and 2.7%, respectively.
- Banking firms, NatWest Group (LON:NWG), Standard Chartered (LON:STAN), Barclays (LON:BARC) and Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) shed 2.7%, 2.3%, 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively.
- On the other hand, defence and aerospace company, Rolls-Royce Holdings (LON:RR) gained 1.7%, after Cathay Pacific Airways (HK:0293) reported that three of its 48 Rolls-Royce engines under inspection had successful repairs, with all jets expected to return to service.
- The FTSE 100 index declined 0.8% to close at 8,298.46.
US MARKET REVIEW
- US markets ended lower yesterday, as disappointing domestic economic data dampened investor sentiment.
- Semiconductor chip companies, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) plunged 9.5%, 9.1%, 8.8% and 8.0%, respectively.
- Financial services companies, Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) and American Express (NYSE:AXP) declined 4.5%, 2.0% and 1.7, respectively.
- Energy companies, Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) shed 3.9%, 2.2% and 2.1%, respectively.
- Technology companies, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) fell 2.7%, 1.9% and 1.0%, respectively.
- The S&P 500 index fell 2.1% to settle at 5,528.93, while the DJIA index declined 1.5% to close at 40,936.93.
- The NASDAQ index eased 3.3% to end the trading session at 17,136.30.
ASIA MARKET REVIEW
- Asian markets are trading lower this morning, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street.
- In Japan, semiconductor company, Renesas Electronics (TYO:6723) has shed 8.4%.
- On the flipside, consumer and chemical products company, Kao Corporation (TYO:4452) has gained 1.5%.
- In Hong Kong, consumer electronics company, Lenovo Group (HK:0992) has declined 2.5%.
- On the other hand, pharmaceutical company, CSPC Pharmaceutical (HK:1093) has eased 0.8%.
- In South Korea, semiconductor company, Hanmi Semiconductor (KS:042700) has dropped 6.9%.
- On the contrary, chemicals company, Hannong Chemicals (KS:011500) has jumped 6.0%.
- The Nikkei 225 index is trading 3.3% lower at 37,405.59.
- The Hang Seng index has declined 0.9% to trade at 17,489.21, while the Kospi index is trading 2.8% lower at 2,590.21.
COMMODITIES
- At 05:30 SAST today, Brent prices fell 0.4% to trade at $73.46/bl.
- Yesterday, Brent prices fell 4.9% to its lowest levels in nearly nine months to settle at $73.75/bl, amid signs of a deal to resolve the disruption in Libyan crude production and exports..
- At 05:30 SAST today, gold prices advanced 0.1% to trade at $2,495.38/oz. Yesterday, gold declined 0.2% to close at $2,493.35/oz, as a stronger dollar dented demand for the safe haven yellow metal.
- Yesterday, copper declined 2.2% to close at $8,856.00/mt. Aluminium closed 0.7% lower at $2,407.50/mt.
CURRENCIES
- Yesterday, the South African rand weakened against the US dollar. In South Africa, gross domestic product (GDP) rose in 2Q24, amid recoveries in finance, domestic trade, government and personal services, combined with improved sentiment and no load-shedding. In the US, the ISM manufacturing PMI rose less than expected in August. Meanwhile, the S&P Global manufacturing PMI fell more than expected in August.
- The yield on benchmark bonds were higher yesterday. The yield on the SA 10-year generic bond rose to 10.66%, while that for SA 20-year generic bond advanced to 11.35%.
- At 05:30 SAST, the US dollar is trading slightly higher against the South African rand at R17.9820, while the euro is trading 0.2% higher at R19.8821. At 05:30 SAST, the British pound has marginally gained against the South African rand to trade at R23.5822.
- Yesterday, the euro declined against most of the major currencies.
- At 05:30 SAST, the euro advanced 0.1% against the US dollar to trade at $1.1055, while it has gained 0.1% against the British pound to trade at GBP0.8433.
ECONOMIC UPDATES
- In South Africa, gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.4% on a QoQ basis in 2Q24, compared to a revised flat reading recorded in the prior quarter.
- In Switzerland, the consumer price index (CPI) recorded a flat reading on a MoM basis in August, compared to a drop of 0.2% recorded in the previous month.
- In Switzerland, GDP rose 0.7% on a QoQ basis in 2Q24, more than market expectations for a rise of 0.5%. GDP had recorded a level of 0.5% in the previous quarter.
- In the US, the S&P Global manufacturing PMI fell to a level of 47.90 in August, more than market expectations for a drop to a level of 48.00. The S&P Global manufacturing PMI had recorded a level of 49.60 in the previous month.
- In the US, the ISM manufacturing PMI advanced less than expected to a level of 47.20 in August. The ISM manufacturing PMI had recorded a level of 46.80 in the prior month.
- In Canada, the S&P Global manufacturing PMI climbed to a level of 49.50 in August, compared to a level of 47.80 recorded in the previous year.
- In Japan, the Jibun Bank services PMI unexpectedly remained unchanged at a level of 53.70 in August.
- In China, the Caixin services PMI unexpectedly declined to a level of 51.60 in August, compared to a level of 52.10 recorded in the previous month.
- In Australia, the manufacturing PMI fell to a level of -30.80 in July, compared to a level of -19.50 recorded in the prior month.
- In Australia, the Judo Bank services PMI rose to a level of 52.50 in August, more than market expectations for a rise to a level of 52.20. The services PMI had recorded a level of 50.40 in the previous month.
- In Australia, GDP rose 0.2% on a QoQ basis in 2Q24, less than market expectations for a rise of 0.3%. GDP had advanced 0.1% in the previous quarter.
CORPORATE UPDATES
SOUTH AFRICA
- Shoprite Holdings Limited (JO:SHPJ): The retail company, in its FY24 results, reported that revenue advanced 12.0% from the preceding year to R246.08bn. Its diluted EPS stood at 1,143.70c, compared with 1,077.90c recorded in the previous year.
- Motus Holdings Limited (JO:MTHJ): The automotive mobility solutions and vehicle products and services company, in its FY24 results, indicated that revenue rose to R113.76bn from R106.54bn posted in the previous year. Its diluted EPS fell 27.4% from the prior year to 1,400.00c.
- Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (JO:APNJ): The pharmaceutical company, in its FY24 results, stated that revenue increased to R44.71bn from R40.71bn posted in previous year. Its diluted EPS fell to 991.40c as compared with 1,176.90c reported in the prior year.