JSE hits 34000

The All-share index of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) hit an all time record of 34065 index points at close of business on Thursday. The All-share index or ALSI, was started 17 years ago by the then Johannesburg Stock Exchange and has never before breached the 34000 mark. When the market crashed in August 2008, the index stood just above 33000 index points. Trade on Thursday was relatively stable but volumes were huge. Analysts described the new optimism to Apple’s solid results posted in New York, pointing out that the benchmark R152 shed 19 basis points as foreign funds flowed into the JSE. The Rand appreciated to R7.80/US$.