The JSE had its best day in over a month yesterday, jumping 3.5% as oil and metals prices perked up on signs of higher demand and as companies prepared to resume operations. That was the All Share Index's biggest daily percentage gain since April 14.

Sasol was amongst the biggest winners, rising more than 10% as Brent crude oil topped $35 a barrel. The Resources 10 Index jumped 6.8%.

There were losers, though, including Astral Foods after it held back on paying an interim dividend due to the current economic environment and the extreme uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 lockdown. Balwin Properties has also withheld a final dividend but says it will review its position later this year. Stor-Age, the self-storage property company, still plans to pay a dividend that's likely to be 5% up on last year.

More on those stories to follow, along with updates from retail and wholesale group Massmart and intu Properties, which is trying to negotiation a debt standstill arrangement with its funders due to current volatile conditions.

Finally, Calgro M3's shares halved in value yesterday despite the residential property and memorial parks developer reporting a return to profitability after making progress with a business turnaround. I'm at a loss as to why they fell so sharply.

Have a good day and stay safe.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

Take a look at the latest Insights and sector reports From Ingham Analytics.

The Ingham Analytics Trader note "Iron ore and steel defies COVID-19 macro gloom" has been popular since issue last Thursday. It's been a profitable call too, with both BHP and Kumba up 12% on the JSE. The note analyses what's happening with steel demand in China, iron ore shipments and freight rates, recently affected by lower oil prices. As China accounts for around half of the commodities in the world there are direct knock-on effects for miners.

Top trader Andrew Kinsey too is setting the cat among the pigeons in "Why do central banks do what they do?" by taking a swipe at central banks and warning the SA Reserve Bank to be careful of copying the Federal Reserve and other major central banks overseas. All sorts of distorting effects could be yet another threat to your financial well-being.