The JSE opened the first trading day of the last month of the year on a flat note, with platinums the early gainers as the market mulled the sharp rise in oil prices. Platinums were up as the rand weakened to R14,10/$ on Wednesday and despite a softer spot price at $913/oz. Trading was cautious ahead of S&P Global Ratings’ ratings announcement on Friday and the referendum in Italy and the presidential election in Austria, which may affect relations with the EU. At 9.32am the all share was 0.05% up at 50,263.30 points and the blue-chip top 40 added 0.01%. Platinums firmed 0.67%, general retailers 0.59%, the property index 0.39% and resources 0.29%. The gold index was 1.07% lower. The Dow Jones closed 0.01% up on Wednesday as banking stocks saw solid gains following comments by Steven Mnuchin, Donald Trump’s nominee for US treasury secretary, that tax cuts and trade pact overhauls would be priorities of the new administration. The Nikkei was up 1.12% and the Hang Seng added 0.40%. Bre...
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