South African Stocks Set Record as CEO News Boosts Gold Fields
South African Stocks Set Record as CEO News Boosts Gold Fields
South Africa’s main stocks benchmark rose for a second day, edging up 0.1% to its seventh record close of 2021, as investors look forward to increased economic support to battle the effects of the pandemic, spurring global appetite for riskier assets.
Platinum stocks were among the leading contributors to gains as spot prices for the metal advanced to the highest since August 2016. Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. surged 4% and Anglo American Platinum Ltd. jumped 5.5% as an index for the sector rose to the highest since 2008.
Gold Fields Ltd. climbed 5.1% as investors welcomed the news that former Anglo Platinum head Chris Griffith will become the bullion producer’s new chief executive officer in April, succeeding Nick Holland.
“The nomination of Griffith has happened sooner than we and the market has expected and removes near-term uncertainty stemming from the expected retirement of Holland, who has led Gold Fields since 2008,” said Tyler Broda, an analyst at RBC Europe Ltd.
A broad index of mining stocks climbed 0.9%, boosted by higher iron ore prices. Exxaro Resources Ltd. surged 6.4% to the highest since July 2019 to lead the gains.
The outcome of the year’s first meeting of the South African Reserve Bank monetary policy committee meeting had little impact on the market after the MPC left its key rate unchanged at a record low of 3.5% as predicted by most economists.
An index of banking stocks dropped 0.9%, with Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. down 3.1%
- You want more news on this market? Click here for a curated First Word channel of actionable news from Bloomberg and select sources. It can be customized to your preferences by clicking into Actions on the toolbar or hitting the HELP key for assistance.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.