MARKET WRAP: JSE closes lower in subdued trade

As US and North Korea ratchet up nuclear threats, bullion serves as a refuge in times of political or economic turbulence, while ‘more risky’ ...

Local bonds struggled to cling to earlier gains, despite a firmer rand, as the focus fell on political risk

The decision by the Reserve Bank not to cut interest rates on Thursday also lifted the rand

Mild risk aversion bumped up the yen, Swiss franc and gold, but stocks were also lifted by good news economic news

Commerzbank says oil prices are finding support from tension around the independence referendum to be held on Monday in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish ...

With tension between the US and North Korea escalating, gold offers refuge, but the tit-for-tat threats see the dollar and world stocks fall

Banks, insurance stocks and retailers were mostly moderately lower, following the Reserve Bank’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged

The rand reacts favourably to the rate hold news, with analysts not expecting another increase until 2018

North Korea says it might detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean in response to President Donald Trump’s UN speech

The local currency has gained another 8c or so against the dollar in early trade, building on the previous day’s gains

The market is debating whether the Reserve Bank missed its chance at a cut, with some saying a move can be expected at the next meeting

The weekend events include a possible North Korean nuclear test and Theresa May’s Brexit speech, with German elections not expected to move the needle ...

Brent crude is slightly lower, US WTI crude futures have ticked up, with observers sceptical that the cartel will reach any further agreement on output cuts

But markets’ reaction to the latest round of fiery rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang is more moderate than before

Equities are lower but gold, the yen and Swiss franc are stronger after Pyongyang threatened to detonate another hydrogen bomb

The rand has added to Thursday’s gains on the Reserve Bank’s surprise decision not to cut interest rates, while global equity markets have all ...