SOUTH AFRICA MARKET REVIEW
- South African markets closed in the green yesterday, as investors await US inflation data due this week.
- Property developers, Attacq (JO:ATTJ), Burstone Group (JO:BTNJ) and Lighthouse Properties (JO:LTEJ) advanced 3.2%, 3.0% and 2.0%, respectively.
- Banking company, Capitec Bank Holdings (JO:CPIJ) gained 2.7%, after the company upwardly revised its 1H24 earnings forecast, signalling a strong financial performance.
- Telecommunications companies, Blue Label Telecoms (JO:BLUJ) and Telkom SA SOC (JO:TKGJ) both rose 1.0%, each.
- On the flipside, platinum miners Impala Platinum (JO:IMPJ), Northam Platinum (JO:NPHJ) and Anglo American Platinum (JO:AMSJ) dropped 4.5%, 3.4% and 2.8%, respectively.
- Gold miners, Sibanye Stillwater (JO:SSWJ) and Harmony Gold Mining Company (JO:HARJ) declined 4.0% and 0.8%, respectively.
- The JSE All Share index advanced 0.1% to close at 81,441.63.
UK MARKET REVIEW
- UK markets finished firmer yesterday, boosted by gains in travel and leisure sector stocks.
- Sports betting and gaming company, Entain (LON:ENT) advanced 5.3%, after the company reported a better-than-expected growth in its online revenues for the second half of its financial year, supported by betting on popular sports events.
- Travel and leisure companies, Whitbread (LON:WTB), InterContinental Hotels Group (LON:IHG) and International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LON:ICAG) gained 2.2%, 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively.
- Banking company, HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) rose 1.9%, amid reports that the lender is considering combining its Commercial and Investment banking divisions to eliminate overlapping roles at the lender and cut costs.
- The FTSE 100 index advanced 1.1% to close at 8,270.84.
US MARKET REVIEW
- US markets ended higher yesterday, as investors await key inflation data for further cues on the US Federal Reserve's policy decision due next week.
- Airlines companies, United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) and American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) jumped 6.0% and 3.9%, respectively.
- Airplanes company, Boeing (NYSE:BA) advanced 3.4%, after the company and its biggest union reached a tentative deal covering more than 32,000 workers, averting a possible strike.
- Financial services companies, American Express (NYSE:AXP), Visa (NYSE:V), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS) gained 2.8%, 2.2%, 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.
- The S&P 500 index rose 1.2% to settle at 5,471.05, while the DJIA index advanced 1.2% to close at 40,829.59.
- The NASDAQ index climbed 1.2% to end the trading session at 16,884.61.
ASIA MARKET REVIEW
- Asian markets are trading mostly higher this morning.
- In Japan, financial services company, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (TYO:8316) has gained 2.1%.
- On the flipside, automatic control equipment company, SMC Corporation (TYO:6273) has declined 1.7%.
- In Hong Kong, e-commerce company, Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Holdings has advanced 4.3%.
- On the other hand, real estate company, Longfor Group Holdings (HK:0960) has shed 2.3%.
- In South Korea, paper manufacturing company, Shin Poong Paper Manufacturing (KS:002870) has dropped 5.1%.
- On the contrary, cosmetic company, Jayjun Cosmetic (KS:025620) has surged 13.2%.
- The Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.1% higher at 36,244.22.
- The Hang Seng index has gained 0.3% to trade at 17,253.89, while the Kospi index is trading marginally lower at 2,535.35.
COMMODITIES
- At 05:30 SAST today, Brent prices marginally fell to trade at $71.81/bl.
- Yesterday, Brent prices rose 1.1% to settle at $71.84/bl, as a potential hurricane approaching the US Gulf Coast raised concerns over production and refining disruptions.
- At 05:30 SAST today, gold prices declined 0.1% to trade at $2,503.20/oz. Yesterday, gold declined 0.4% to close at $2,505.25/oz.
- Yesterday, copper declined 0.4% to close at $8,972.25/mt. Aluminium closed 0.8% higher at $2,359.00/mt.
CURRENCIES
- Yesterday, the South African rand weakened against the US dollar.
- The yield on benchmark bonds rose yesterday. The yield on the SA 10-year generic bond advanced to 10.45%, while that for SA 20-year generic bond rose to 11.06%
- At 05:30 SAST, the US dollar is trading 0.1% higher against the South African rand at R17.8866, while the euro is trading 0.1% higher at R19.7437. At 05:30 SAST, the British pound has gained 0.1% against the South African rand to trade at R23.3797.
- Yesterday, the euro declined against most of the major currencies. In the eurozone, the Sentix investor confidence index contracted in September.
- At 05:30 SAST, the euro slipped 0.1% against the US dollar to trade at $1.103, while it has slightly gained against the British pound to trade at GBP0.8446.
ECONOMIC UPDATES
- In the eurozone, the Sentix investor confidence index fell to a level of -15.40 in September, compared to a level of -13.90 recorded in the previous month.
- In China, trade surplus unexpectedly widened to $91.02bn in August, compared to a surplus of $84.65bn recorded in the previous month.
- In Australia, the Westpac consumer confidence index dropped 0.5% in September, compared to a rise of 2.8% recorded in the previous month.
- In Australia, the NAB business confidence index fell to a level of -4.00 in August, compared to a level of 1.00 recorded in the previous month.
CORPORATE UPDATES
SOUTH AFRICA
- Capitec Bank Holdings Limited (JO:CPIJ): The banking company, in its trading update for the six months ended 31 August 2024, revealed that it expects EPS to be 35.0% to 37.0%, higher as compared to 4,068.00c recorded in the previous year. Also, it expects HEPS to be 35.0% to 37.0%, higher as compared to 4,072.00c recorded in the previous year. Moreover, the company intends to release its interim results on or about 1 October 2024.
- AVI Limited (JO:AVIJ): The consumer products company, in its FY24 results, indicated that its revenues rose to R15.86bn from R14.92bn posted in the previous year. Its diluted EPS increased 22.0% to 675.50c from the same period of the prior year.
- Vukile Property Fund Limited (JO:VKEJ): The real estate investment trust company announced that its 99.5% held subsidiary, Castellana Properties SOCIMI, S.A., has concluded a share purchase agreement with Suitable World, Unipessoal, Lda, pursuant to which Castellana will acquire a high- quality, blue-chip tenanted shopping centre portfolio, comprising three assets located in Portugal for an aggregate purchase consideration of EUR176,500,000.
- Sun International Limited (JO:SUIJ): The gaming and hospitality company, in its FY24 results, reported that its income advanced 5.0% to R6.00bn from the preceding year. Its basic and diluted EPS stood at 335.00c, compared to 168.00c recorded in the previous year.
- Bell Equipment (JO:BELJ) reports profit pressure: Bell Equipment, the manufacturer and distributor of heavy industrial equipment, has reported a decline in its half-year profit, citing a substantial softening of the construction sector in main regions as well as in the commodity cycle.
- FirstRand (JO:FSRJ) outfits toast Morgan Stanley deal: Ashburton, the asset management arm of FirstRand, and FNB Wealth and Investments have partnered with Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), as SA’s most valuable banking group ramps up its strategy to fine-tune its global capabilities.
- Watchdog gives nod to Dis-Chem’s acquisition of Columbia Falls Properties: The Competition Tribunal has approved Dis-Chem (JO:DCPJ) Pharmacies’ acquisition of Columbia Falls Properties 7, a move that will give the pharmaceutical group ownership of the key Midrand property housing its distribution centre and head office.