JSE surges almost 4% as US-China relief rally lifts almost everyone

03 December 2018 - 12:47 By Karl Gernetzky
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Chinese president Xi Jinping, left, and US president Donald Trump, right, attend a working dinner after the G20 leaders' summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 1 2018.
Chinese president Xi Jinping, left, and US president Donald Trump, right, attend a working dinner after the G20 leaders' summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 1 2018.
Image: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The JSE jumped as much as 3.94%, on track for its best day in weeks, as risk-assets cheered a 90-day ceasefire between the US and China.

The parties have agreed to try to resolve their continuing trade dispute, which has dampened prospects for global economic growth and created volatility in markets in 2018.

At 10am the all share was up 3.94% at 52,662.2 points and the top-40 4.25%. Industrials jumped 4.57%, platinum miners 5.65%, banks 2.73% and financials 2.18%.

The 90-day truce avoids the imposition of 25% tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods, giving the parties time to resolve a number of differences, analysts said.

Brent crude had surged 5.59% to $62.40 a barrel, lifted by the easing trade tension, as well as the prospect that oil cartel Opec will agree to production cuts this week.

Local focus will be on Tuesday's GDP data for the third quarter, which will finally resolve whether SA has left its technical recession — defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction.

Sasol surged 5.84% to R430.02.

Diversified miner Glencore gained 4.79% to R53.63, BHP 4.89% to R276.54 and Anglo American 4.49% to R289.44.

Rand hedge Richemont jumped 4.12% to R92.80.

FirstRand was up 3.64% to R69.23.

Naspers rocketed 8.24% to R2,990.71.

At the same time platinum had gained 1.14% to $814.61 an ounce and gold 0.79% to $1,231.77.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now