Local markets

At midday on Thursday, rising gold mining shares led gains as the JSE edged up 0.24%, flattish after yesterday’s rally on upbeat global economic data.

The rand was trading at R7.26 to the US dollar just after 12:00, somewhat firmer after overnight levels and looking to the euro for direction.

A barrel of Brent crude oil cost $75.34 at noon, a gain of 0.60%, despite record high US inventories and caution before the release of employment data.

International markets

On US markets yesterday, the Dow Jones closed 2.54% higher and the Nasdaq 2.97% up. Investor sentiment improved after better-than-expected factory data from the US and China.

Japan’s Nikkei index finished 1.52% higher this morning, as US and Chinese manufacturing data continued to calm investor anxiety about the global economy.

Germany’s DAX had lost 0.02% by midday, on caution before the announcement of the European Central Bank interest rate decision and US home sales.

England’s FTSE 100 was 0.08% up, creeping back after earlier losses in miners on pessimistic Citigroup comments.

Share price news

Blue Label Telecoms Limited (share code: BLU) climbed 8.96% by midday to sell at R5.23 a share. Investors sold 27 379 948 shares in 804 deals.

Rising 3% to R42.25 a share was Northam Platinum, after 187 deals traded 236 813 shares.

Losing ground at noon was Brait SA (BAT) in the investment banks sector, whose shares fell 4.70% to R20.49 each. Investors exchanged 555 424 shares in 190 deals.

Dimension Data Holdings Limited (DDT) lost 1.61% after 26 deals totaling 579 973 shares sent the share price down to R13.45 at noon.