South African Equities Snap 2-Day Drop: Aquarius, Country Bird, Sasol Move
South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index rose 182.81 or 0.6 percent, to 28,550.07 by the close in Johannesburg, snapping two days of losses.
The following were among the most active stocks in the South African market today.
Anglo American Plc (AGL SJ), owner of the world’s biggest platinum producer, gained 4.03 rand, or 1.4 percent, to 295.80 rand. The spot price of platinum rose as much as 1.4 percent to $1,561.50 an ounce.
Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP SJ), a producer of the precious metal, fell for a second day, retreating 56 cents, or 1.7 percent, to 32.25 rand. The company said it may close its Blue Ridge mine for as long as seven months to improve safety and efficiency.
Command Holdings Ltd. (CMA SJ), a private security company, rose 2 cent, or 8 percent, to 27 cents. The company said it is still engaged in negotiations that may affect its share price, according to a stock exchange filing.
Country Bird Holdings Ltd. (CBH SJ), the chicken supplier, declined 25 cents, or 9.1 percent, to 2.50 rand. The company said headline earnings per share for the year though June will be between 28 cents and 33 cents lower than the 57 cents per share posted for the same period a year earlier.
First Uranium Corp. (FUM SJ), the exploration and production company, gained 50 cents, or 7.7 percent, to 7 rand. Gold production from its Ezulwini mine jumped 88 percent during the first quarter from the previous three months.
Northam Platinum Ltd. (NHM SJ), a platinum miner, dropped 40 cents, or 0.9 percent, to 44.69 rand. More than 5,000 workers at its mine in Rustenburg were mourning the deaths of two of their colleagues on July 20, South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers said.
Simmer & Jack Mines Ltd. (SIM SJ), a gold-mining company, advanced for a second day, adding 6 cents, or 6.3 percent, to 1.02 rand. The company on July 27 said former Harmony Gold Mining Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Bernard Swanepoel had been selected to take over as chairman. “There are very impressive people on the board right now,” RBC Capital Markets analyst, Leon Esterhuizen, said in an interview from London today.
Sasol Ltd. (SOL SJ), the world’s biggest maker of motor fuel from coal, climbed 5.50 rand, or 1.9 percent, to 294 rand. Crude oil gained for the first time in a week as equities advanced and the dollar weakened, boosting the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment.
To contact the reporters on this story: Ron Derby in Johannesburg at rderby1@bloomberg.net Renee Bonorchis in Johannesburg at rbonorchis@bloomberg.net
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