Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index fell for a third day, sliding 357.13, or 1.4 percent, to 25,755.60 at the close in Johannesburg.

The following are among the most active stocks in the South African market today.

Ansys Ltd. (ANS SJ), the designer of transport and defense monitoring and control systems climbed 6 cents, or 11 percent, to 62 cents, its biggest gain since Sept. 17. The company said its first-half loss narrowed to 1.55 million rand ($196,000).

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BIL SJ), the world’s largest mining company, dropped 4.85 rand, or 2.2 percent, to 211.26 rand. Anglo American Plc (AGL SJ) lost 3.80 rand, or 1.3 percent, to 289.20 rand. Copper fell as much as 2.8 percent to $6,372.25 a metric ton in London.

Cashbuild Ltd. (CSB SJ) retreated for the first time in three days, sliding 1.40 rand, or 2 percent, to 69.60 rand. The building-materials retailer said gross profit margins remain under pressure.

Illovo Sugar Ltd. (ILV SJ), Africa’s largest producer of the sweetener, fell 2.31 rand, or 6.5 percent, to 33.40 rand, snapping three days of gains. It said headline earnings for the year through March 2010 will be “similar to those of the previous year.”

Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMP SJ), the producer of more than a quarter of the world’s supply of the metal, dropped 3.04 rand, or 1.8 percent, to 167.96 rand. Nomura International Plc cut its recommendation on the stock to “reduce” as a strengthening rand hurts the company’s profits. The brokerage also cut its price estimate for Impala to 120 rand, from 260 rand.

Imperial Holdings Ltd. (IPL SJ), owner South Africa’s largest auto dealership, fell 1.10 rand, or 1.4 percent, to 77.49 rand. The Johannesburg-based company said the outlook for its local operations remain “lackluster.” It may improve next year, Chief Executive Officer Hubert Brody said in an interview at the company’s annual general meeting today.

To contact the reporter on this story: Renee Bonorchis in Johannesburg at rbonorchis@bloomberg.net To contact the reporter on this story: Janice Kew in Johannesburg at jkew1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 3, 2009 10:22 EST