The JSE remained weaker at lunchtime on Thursday, with a stronger rand keeping rand-hedge shares at bay, but helping interest-rate sensitive banks and retailers. The all-share index slipped 0.28% to 52,397.80 points, as the resource 10 index lost 1.72%, bringing losses in the influential sector to 8% over the past five sessions. The resource shares were also reeling from a sharp drop in some commodity prices. But banks and retailers were relatively well supported, as the rand strengthened to a three-week high to the dollar, improving the inflation outlook that bodes well for the two sectors. The local currency hit session highs of R13.15 to the dollar, from lows of R13.9 last week, easing inflation concerns that have crept up since President Jacob Zuma sacked Pravin Gordhan as finance minister just more than three weeks ago. Europe’s main markets were mostly higher, following the peers in Asia, where Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.97%. "Markets in general are just looking for some k...
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