BUSINESS MAVERICK : A rocky year for almost every firm on the JSE, except the mining companies

  • 📰 dailymaverick
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 71 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 32%
  • Publisher: 84%

Singapore News News

Singapore Singapore Latest News,Singapore Singapore Headlines

Covid-19 took its toll on global economies and SA’s in particular – that much can be seen in the performance of SA’s blue-chip banking, retail and industrial stocks, which were hammered. Those that recover and thrive will be the companies with the strongest balance sheets and best management.

It is safe to say that the JSE had an interesting year in 2020. After crashing spectacularly in March, the stock exchange recovered its losses within weeks. Considering the devastation that Covid-19 wrought on the South African economy, the fact that the JSE ended the year up 0.63% from where it began in January 2020 is remarkable.

Banks, which were expected to prop up the economy during and after the lockdown by providing extended terms and additional loans to individuals and businesses, fared badly over the year, with the Financial 15 falling 22.69% over the 12 months. Among the bigger losers was Nedbank, down 39.6%, and Standard Bank, down 24.5%, though it is worth noting that in the last six months these financial stocks have begun to climb back out of the doldrums.

Among the mining groups, DRDGOLD and Pan African Resources were the standout performers, with their share prices surging by 139% and 122%, respectively, although this growth has slowed in recent months. Kumba and Goldfields also grew strongly by 49.3% and 43.5%, respectively. Support for this sector comes from increasingly stringent emission regulations in Europe and to an extent China, which is driving up the demand – and price – for palladium and rhodium. Platinum is gaining by virtue of the fact that work is being done to substitute palladium with platinum in autocatalysts.

that its pattern of growing sales and taking market share had continued. The retailer reported that headline profits grew by almost 17%. Unlike almost every other Top 100 company, dividends were increased, by a hefty 20%. As a result, the share price jumped 22% in three days, reversing previous losses and ensuring the retailer ended the year up 11%.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 3. in SG
 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Singapore Singapore Latest News, Singapore Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Stefanutti Stocks to sell its mining services division as it battles for survivalThe JSE-listed construction company will sell the unit to privately owned Akhona Mining Services How I wish all traders are like majestic_marv there won't be any loss of money because I and so many of my friends traded with him and got our profit , thanks once again Mr majestic_marv
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Business Maverick: China Acts to Slow Gains by Strongest Yuan in Almost Three YearsThere are growing signs that Beijing is keen to slow the ascent in China’s currency after it surged to the highest level since mid-2018 against the dollar.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

BUSINESS MAVERICK: South African mining output rises in February after 12 consecutive months of contractionA green shoot has appeared in South Africa’s mining sector. Mining production rose 0.8% year on year in February, the first month since February 2020 in which it has not declined. The catch is that the number could still be revised up or down in the coming months.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

MARKET WRAP: Rand firmer as global risk sentiment improvesThe JSE all share closed slightly weaker, pulled lower by the resource and gold mining indices
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »