The JSE muddled along on Tuesday, drawing support largely from mining and industrial stocks. The all share was up 0.30% to 58,262.30 points at lunchtime, after failing to secure a positive close for five consecutive sessions. Retail stocks were top performers in the broader industrial 25 index, after better-than-expected inflation data opened a window of opportunity for the South African Reserve Bank to cut interest rates. Inflation eased to an annual rate of 4% in February, Statistics SA data showed earlier in the day, from 4.4% in January. "This relatively low level of inflation, which is now well below the mid-point of the target band, will put pressure on the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates at their next meeting, especially considering the desire to increase the GDP growth level in the country," said Luigi Marinus, portfolio manager at PPS Investments. The Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee meets next week to decide on rates. Gold and platinum stocks attracted a fair am...
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