The JSE opened a little weaker on Friday in subdued trade as the market mulled Thursday’s Reserve Bank’s interest-rate announcement and the possible outcome of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend. The Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged at 7% but appeared to have considered the possibility of a rate cut on favourable consumer inflation data. One committee member voted for a 25 basis-point cut. "A reduction in rates would be possible should inflation continue to surprise on the downside," the Bank said in its statement. General retailers and banks were lower despite the possibility of lower rates later in the year, as the rand remained flat at about R12.94 to the dollar. At 9.35am the all share was 0.17% lower at 53,938.90 points and the blue-chip top 40 was 0.15% lower. General retailers lost 1.02%, banks 0.79% and financials 0.56%. The gold index rose 1.59% platinums 0.43%. The Dow closed 0.34% higher at 21,082...
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