The JSE closed lower on Thursday after a volatile session, weighed down in late trade by the prospect of reduced liquidity in world financial markets from next month. The rand fluctuated as the market digested minutes from both the European Central Bank (ECB) and US Federal Reserve policy meetings in July. Analysts said the minutes decreased the likelihood of interest-rate increases, but raised the prospect of synchronised monetary policy tightening as early as next month. The all share closed 0.21% lower to 55,534.6 points and the blue-chip top 40, 0.3% Investors also faced a spate of local earnings reports, including Standard Bank, which put pressure on rest of its sector. Banks were off 0.54%, financials 0.49%, industrials 0.13% and resources 0.19%. The platinum index gained 0.94%, gold 2.07% and general retailers 1.52%. Rand hedges were mixed, with Anheuser-Busch InBev adding 0.49% to R1,558.71, while Richemont was off 0.58% to R112.93. British American Tobacco fell 0.45% to R82...
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