Market Indicators
- JSE All Share (ALSI) 54,440.43
- Rand/Euro R 13.33
- Rand/Pound R 18.30
- Rand/US Dollar R 11.93
- Rand/Aus Dollar R 9.39
Equity
- The FTSE/JSE All Share (ALSI) gained 4.7% on a total return basis for the month and over the 12 months gained 14.8%. Large Caps (up 5.2%) outperformed Small Caps (up 4.1%) and Mid Caps (up 2.1%).
- The best-performing sectors were Chemicals (up 16.9%), Mobile Telecommunications (up 15.9%) and Automobiles and Parts (up 11.8%). The worst performing sectors were Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology (down 5.2%), Support Services (down 3.6%) and Construction and Materials (down 2.7%).
- Over a 10-year period, Industrials (up 24.3% p.a.) outperformed Financials (up 18.4% p.a.) and Resources (up 11.3% p.a.). The composition of the ALSI as at the end of the month was Industrials 61.3%, Resources 15.3% and Financials the remaining 23.4%.
Bonds
- The All Bond Index declined 0.5% for the month and over the 12 months gained 11.5%. The Inflation-linked Bond Index gained 0.6% and over the 12 months gained 9.6%.
Property
- The SA Listed Property Index remained flat for the month and over 12 months gained 38.3%.
Cash
- Cash returned 0.5% for the month and over the 12 months returned 6.2%. Over a 10-year period, inflation in the form of ECPI has been 6.0% p.a.
International Market Performance
- The Rand strengthened 2.9% against the US Dollar and 0.2% against the Euro in April 2015.
- The MSCI World Index gained 2.4% on a total return basis in US Dollar terms for the month and over 12 months gained 8.0%. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 7.7% for the month and over the 12 months gained 8.2%.
- The best-performing emerging market index from the selection of international equity indices for the month was the MSCI Russia (up 17.3%), while the worst-performing was the MSCI India (down 6.5%).
- The best-performing developed market index from the selection of international equity indices for the month was the Hang Seng (up 13.1%), while the worst-performing was the DAX 30 (down 0.1%).
- The US Dollar Platinum price declined 1.3% for the month and over the 12 months declined 20.2%. The US Dollar Gold price declined 2.3% for the month and over the 12 months declined 8.5%. Brent Crude gained 11.6% for the month and over the 12 months declined 43.8%.
