MARKET WRAP: Rand caps second week of gains as global risk sentiment improves

The rand was in positive territory for a second consecutive week on Friday as talk of an impending deal between the US and China over trade was mooted.

The more than 18-month long trade war between the world’s two largest economies has put a dent in global economic growth, while markets have been extremely volatile as the tit-for-tat battle over import tariffs wages on.

A deal, however, appears not to be a foregone conclusion, with a number of analysts warning that the world can only bank on a ceasefire once US and Chinese officials have signed on the dotted line.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Thursday that the two countries are down to the final steps of agreeing on a phase one deal, surprising investors, who have spent much of the past week on the receiving end of headlines suggesting the opposite.

The threat of more tariffs, however, is real, said London Capital Group senior market analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya in a note. “The US will likely add 15% tariffs on $160bn worth of Chinese imports if a partial deal is not inked by December 15,” she said.

Others were more optimistic. Trade-related headlines continue to move global markets on a daily basis, but it now seems loose ends in the US-China deal are being tied up, Rand Merchant Bank analyst Siobhan Redford said.

At 6pm, the rand had gained 0.74% to R14.7077/$, 0.47% to R16.2543/€, and 0.54% to R18.9881/£. The euro was 0.28% firmer at $1.1051. The rand gained a little more than 1% against the dollar in the week

Local bonds were also given a boost, with the yield on the R2030 falling to 9.085%, from 9.112% at Thursday’s close. Bond yields move inversely to their prices.

The JSE all share fell 0.32% to 56,054.8 points and the top 40 0.46%. Miners gave back some of Thursday’s gains, with the gold index relinquishing 1.29%, platinums 1.11%, and resources 0.7%. General retailers added 0.58% and banks and financials 0.23% and 0.22%, respectively.

Gold was down 0.23% to $1,467.62/oz, while platinum added 0.99% to $889.44. Brent crude was 0.7% higher at $62.74 a barrel.

Pepkor rose 0.74% to R17.68, despite saying earlier it had suffered writedowns of R1.2bn due to a contraction in the building market in SA.

Accelerate Property fund dropped 5.82% to R1.95. It said earlier it had reached a deal to sell an Edcon warehouse for R94m, as it pursues about R2.5bn in disposals of non-core assets.

Oceana Group gained 2.77% to R64.50 after reporting group revenue was flat at R7.64bn in its year to end-September, with bad weather in both the US and SA affecting its operations during the period.