Stocks on the JSE edged lower for the second straight session yesterday, dipping 0.3% as miner BHP Billiton slid after its first-half profit fell short of expectations.
But losses were limited by strong showings by Shoprite and Imperial, both of which rose on solid full-year results.
Investors welcomed Shoprite's plans to ramp up its expansion across sub-Saharan Africa. Shares of Africa's top grocer rose 1.2% to R163.50 after earlier gaining more than 4%.
The benchmark Top 40 index fell 0.29%, and the broader All-Share index was down 0.36%.
Shares of BHP Billiton dropped 1.6% to R306.18 after the world's biggest resources group reported a 15% drop in half-year profit before one-offs as slowing Chinese growth ate into demand for raw materials and dragged down commodity prices. Imperial Holdings rose 3.8% to R211 after the auto leasing and logistics company posted a 15% rise in full-year profit.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
