SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET OVERVIEW

The ALSI closed the day 21 points higher at 17 039. Financials took the lead gaining 2.92%. The Rand traded at R10.47 to the Dollar, this however did little for the resource sector which inched higher only 0.18% as commodity prices remains weak. Global markets are trading lower as diminishing prospects for a U.S. auto industry government rescue added to worries about the slumping global economy and places more pressure on the demand for resources. Gold and platinum last traded at $728.1/oz and $823.5/oz. Industrials closed 0.52% lower. Source Global Trader Equity Sales 19 November 2008
  
 INTERNATIONAL MARKET OVERVIEW

U.S. equities continued to set the pace for the international equity markets, trading lower on the back of growing concerns over the fate of the U.S. automakers, as well as weak economic data reports. New houses (Housing Starts) and building permits in the U.S. continued to set record lows, implying that the U.S. housing market is not out of the doldrums yet. European and Asian equities also traded lower as concern mounted that the global economic slowdown would cut earnings at financial firms and commodity producers. As expected, U.S crude oil inventories increased more than forecast as fuel demand dropped. Crude oil December futures fell 1.2% as in light of the glaring signs that fuel consumption remains in the U.S. which is the largest consumer of the commodity in the world. Source Global Trader International Spreads 19 November 2008