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Stocks snapped a four-day rally on Tuesday, falling into the red with investors taking profits in stocks such as retailer Woolworths, which have helped lead the recent surge. Woolworths helped lead blue chips lower as it shed over 2 percent to 73.70. Over the previous three sessions it had added almost 5 percent. The Top-40 index fell 0.23 percent to 39,934.74. The wider All-share index ended 0.2 percent lower at 44,640.98. Advancers pipped decliners 164 to 154 with 52 issues unchanged. Around 180 million shares changed hands.

The rand gained to its strongest in nearly a week on Tuesday after upbeat mining and manufacturing data improved economic growth prospects for the economy. Mining data showed production surged 22 percent year-on-year in October, from 0.6 percent the previous month. Manufacturing rose 1.5 percent from a 3.3 percent contraction, and against market expectations for a further fall in October. The data took the rand to 10.2725 against the dollar, breaking through resistance and gaining over 1 percent.

Australian shares fell 0.8 percent to a 3-1/2-month low this morning as big banks and miners weighed on the market, while gold miners jumped on firmer bullion prices. Most Asian share markets lurched lower today as investors booked profits on a range of once-crowded positions, largely to the benefit of bonds and the detriment of the U.S. dollar. News that U.S. budget negotiators had reached a provisional two-year deal to avoid another government shutdown offered some relief, but not enough to overcome the year-end blues.

F&G = 55 (Neutral)
FTSE -0.55%, Nikkei -0.55%, Gold 1258.83, Silver 20.28, Rand/Dollar 10.36, Rand/Pound 16.99

Opinion - Flat and boring day for traders ahead today. 

The rand was on a weaker footing on Wednesday as slightly better-than-expected retail sales data failed to make an impression. The rand was at 10.3835 to the dollar at 1511 GMT, down nearly 0.3 percent from the previous day's New York close. South Africa's retail sales grew at 1.3 percent year-on-year in October, from a revised 0.1 percent in September, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast year-on-year growth of 1.2 percent. The data suggests that household spending could remain a drag on growth in the fourth quarter.

Gold prices fell on Wednesday after a three-day rally driven by investors short-covering, as a tentative U.S. budget deal supported expectations for an earlier reduction in U.S. monetary stimulus. The bipartisan budget deal announced in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday is expected to end three years of impasse and fiscal instability in Washington that culminated in October with a partial government shutdown.

Stocks fell for a second straight session on Wednesday, with trading volumes starting to thin out ahead of the Christmas holidays. But shares of junior gold producer Wits Gold soared 30.49 percent to 10.70 rand after Sibanye Gold made a cash offer to acquire all of its shares.

The Top-40 index was down 0.5 percent to 39,736.78. while the wider All-share index ended 0.46 percent lower at 44,436.86.

Decliners included diversified mining firm African Rainbow Minerals, which fell 2.37 percent to 182.05 and retailer Massmart, down 2.18 percent to 134.50. Media and e-commerce group Naspers Holdings, led the advancers on the Top-40, adding 1.76 percent to 1,038.00. The company is the most valuable on the Johannesburg bourse, with a market value of $40 billion. Around 176 million shares changed hands. Decliners outnumbered advancers 170 to 136, with 61 issues unchanged.

New Highs - NASPERS, Steinhof, Curro. New Lows - Massmart, B-Africa.

South Africa's headline consumer inflation slowed to 5.3 percent year-on-year in November from 5.5 percent in October. On a month-on-month basis, CPI also came in slightly lower at 0.1 percent compared with 0.2 percent in October. Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a year-on-year rate of 5.4 percent and 0.2 percent month-on-month.

FTSE -0.24%, Nikkei -1.12%, Gold 1254.74, Silver 20.25, Rand/Dollar 10.41, Rand/Pound 17.00.
F&G = 50 (Neutral)

Caught the last half of the reason why we tanked on Business News. The 2IC of the Fed Bank was either appointed today or he said something. He was Israel's Fed Bank chief and is known to be apposed to the stimulus.

All is not lost. We have to correct at some stage so rather now than later. Another 6% will be fine to get the technicals and figures back in line.
What I don't understand is why the GP tanked with equities. This hurts our market more than others.

 

Gold - 1225 vs 1226 yesterday Morning
R/$  - 10.78 vs 10.63 yesterday Morning

Share prices bucked the global trend to drop for a fifth day running on Thursday as global investors shifted out of emerging markets and into the recuperating West. Impala Platinum was the biggest loser on the All-Share index after sliding more than 6 percent to 118.01 rand with investors unnerved by Zimbabwe's demand for local refining of the precious metal. Bigger platinum producer Anglo American shed 2.4 percent to 372.07 rand.

The Top-40 index declined 0.59 percent to 40,719.11, while the All-Share was down 0.55 percent to 45,444.59.

Equities scaled multiple lifetime records for much of 2013 as the U.S. Federal Reserve bond-buying policy encouraged investors to seek risky assets in less-developed markets. But the Fed is reducing that stimulus package and upbeat jobs data earlier this week has increased expectations the scaling back might be more aggressive than anticipated.

European stocks extended a rally into a third day on Thursday, betting on further economic improvements in the bloc, while U.S. shares rose at the open on upbeat labour market data. Johannesburg's market volume is remains low with some traders and investors still away. Some 148 million shares were traded with decliners outpacing advancers 171 to 150.

Dow -0.1%, FTSE -0.5%, Dax -0.8%, HSeng +0.4%, Nikkei -0.1%, AllOrds -0.2%
Gold 1235.08, Plat 1426.10, Silver 19.73, Brent 107.53
USD 10.80, GBP 17.88, EUR 14.77, Yen 9.76
F&G = 68 (Greed)

New Highs for Advtech, Distell, Capco, Investec PLC, Old Mutual, Telcom, Glencor (yeah JaDEB), new lows for Massmart, Truworths, Shoprite and Foschini.

Trust you all had a lovely time doing fun things far away from the markets these past few weeks.

Who is ready to make some serious cash this year?  I’m in, let’s start.

Spot prices closing Friday:
SA Alsi 45548
Top40 40834

Europe:
FTSE 6742, DAX 9473, CAC40 4250 and in the

USA
DOW -0.05%, NASDAQ +.45%, S&P +0.21%. 

In Asia earlier today Nikkei closed for holiday (Coming of Age Day), Hong Kong -0.11%, Shanghai -0.46%, Sensex +1.29%, Singapore -0.22%.

On the economic calendar front we have US Federal Budget Balance @ 14:00, prev month -135.2B, expect 44.0B.

Futures @ 8:17 Dow -0.20, S&P -0.23%, Gold 1251, Crude 92, Brent 107.

CFR ended +4.86% in US, +3.97% on Swiss Exchange, TKG on OTC US +6.90%, Naspers +1.35% on OTC US.

Back home new highs for TKG 3230, Glencore 5587 & new low for Massmart.

IGM T40 Cash +73 atm @ 40978.

Did I miss something? Not in the groove yet. 
Thank you Aragorn and jaDEB for keeping the home fires burning, please continue.

Gold 1252   $/R 10.81  Copper 7.32  Oil 91.84  Nickel 14.18