US STOCKS rose, helping the S&P’s 500 index rebound from a two-year low, after Dow Chemical agreed to buy Rohm & Haas and a rally in aluminium sent Alcoa to the biggest gain in a month. 

GOLD rallied nearly 2% yesterday , boosted by firmer oil prices and talk of a producer buying back material it had previously sold forward. 

BONDS were mixed in late trade yesterday , with the middle and longer-term bonds weaker, but the shorter R153s little changed. 

THE rand remained on the front foot in late trade yesterday but was off the day’s best levels as rumours of MTN corporate activity, which provided a fillip for the local currency earlier in the session, began to lose impetus, with traders saying the substance and ramifications of talks remained unknown.  

THE JSE ended more than 1% weaker yesterday, led lower by resources and industrials. However, traders said that firmer gold and platinum prices had helped cushion the market to a certain extent. 

HONG KONG — Asian stocks rose and government bond prices fell today after a report that the US government is considering taking over the two top US mortgage finance companies, which have been under fire on fears they may not be able to get the capital they need to survive. 

THE RAND remained firm in early trade today, but needs to break below the R7,65 level for the momentum to continue.  

SINGAPORE — Oil steadied at near $142 a barrel today, having risen 4% in the past session due to heightened geopolitical worries in Iran and Nigeria, as well as fears of supply disruption in Brazil. 

SINGAPORE — Gold dipped today, having rallied to its highest level in almost three months the previous day, but a weaker US dollar and strong oil prices could offer an excuse to investors to buy again. 

BONDS were a little weaker in early trade today on the back of the slightly softer rand.