The JSE may benefit from firmer higher Asian markets on Friday morning, with sentiment boosted by news drugmaker Pfizer may get regulatory approval for a Covid-19 vaccine as early as October.
“This is not only for market concerns, but this is a world desperately anxious for a cure to put an end to the most severe global recession since the 1930s and so people can start to piece their lives back together,” said AxiCorp chief global markets strategist Stephen Innes in a note.
Locally, news is also upbeat, with Eskom announcing the suspension of load-shedding on Friday. No load-shedding is expected through the weekend.
In morning trade the Hang Seng had added 1.25% and the Shanghai Composite 0.78%.
Tencent, which influences the JSE via Naspers, had jumped 2.56%.
Gold was flat at $1,947.50/oz while platinum had risen 0.37% to $922.76. Brent crude was 0.45% higher at $45.04 a barrel.
The rand was 0.2% firmer at R17.22/$.
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