Stock Market Trading South Africa - Johannesburg Stock Exchange Index (2024)

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (“JSE”)located at1 Exchange Square, 2 Gwen Lane, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. The JSEoffers secure, efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, supported by our post-trade and regulatory services. We are the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to the leading capital markets in South Africa and the broader African continent.

The JSE is currently ranked the 19th largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalisation and the largest exchange in the African continent.

The JSE was formed in 1887 during the first South African gold rush. Following the first legislation covering financial markets in 1947, the JSE joined the World Federation of Exchanges in 1963 and upgraded to an electronic trading system in the early 1990s. The bourse demutualised and listed on its own exchange in 2005.
​
In 2003, we launched an alternative exchange, AltX, for small and mid-sized listings, followed by the Yield X for interest rate and currency instruments. The JSE then acquired the South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX) in 2001 and the Bond Exchange of South Africa (BESA) in 2009. Today we offerfive financial markets namely Equities and Bonds as well as Financial, Commodity and Interest Rate Derivatives. ​​​​

So how big is stock trading in South Africa?

• Value of trades (2019): R144 357 225000
• Value of trades (2018): R133 196 860000 (same week end of the previous year)

On a regular week the total value of shares trades tops R100 billion easily. So it is a pretty big deal.

So you want to start investing in shares listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) but you have no idea how to go about it? There are a number of people who have made stock market trading their full time jobs. But this is not for the faint harted and we wouldn't recommend it to beginners.

First things first. You will need to register with a broker registered with the JSE. So these are entities and or persons that are registered with the JSE and are allowed to offer stock brokerage services to clients. Most banks these days offer stock trading services on their online banking portals too, if you dont want to go through the hassle of finding the best stock broker that suites your needs.

A few stock brokers we can recommend:

• Easy Equities
• PSG
• Thebe Securities

Once you have found your broker or if you using your bank as your stock broker you will need to submitall the relevant paperwork to open your stock trading account. Basically you will need to be "FICA" compliant. FICA is an acronym for Financial Intelligence Centre Act.

Paperwork such as bank account details, residential address, copy of ID etc will need to be submitted as well mentioning where the funds you will be investing on the JSE comes from. This is all to assist the FIC, your broker and the JSE in combating money laundering activities. Basically they want to ensure you are not investing money obtained through illict or illegal means on the markets, and then selling your investments and paying it back into your account, as a way of laundering illicit or illegal money. Yes its irritating and frustrating process but it assists in ensuring we have a sound financial system.

Once you are all set, you need to know the following before you get started. It helps to have a clear game plan before you make any rash decisions would could impact on your potential gains on the JSE .

1 Know which shares you want to buy:
Before jumping in and buying a share you know nothingabout. Do your research. Know which share you want to buy and why you want to buy them, instead of jumping head first into the markets without a clear plan and reason for why you looking to invest in a particular share.

2. Stock valuation:
Are they share (s) you are looking to buy overpriced (if they are rather dont buy) or undervalued (the right time to buy to get most out of future gains),

3: Future prospects:
Their future prospects as there is no point in buying a company whose products will be obsoletein a few years (for for example will you buy shares in a company that rents VHS or DVD movies out right now?),

4. Your investment horizon:
i.e how long you intend on keeping the shares for. Dont expect the stock market to make you rich overnight. If this is your mindset or if someone told you they making loads of money on the JSE overnight they are lying and you will be bitterly disappointed.

5. What the overall markets are doing
The main Johannesburg stock exchange index to follow if you are interested in what the overall markets in South Africa are doing is the JSE All Share index. This is a broad index covering the bulk of shares listed on the JSE.

Other shares we have looked at: Click on any of the links to be taken to thatshare valuation.

Amazon (AMZN)

Microsoft (MSFT)

Harley-Davidson (HOG)

Ferrari (BIT:RACE)

Home Depot (NYSE:HD)

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Bowler Metcalf (BCF)

Ascendis (ASC)

Santova (SNV)

Rolfes (RLF)

Blue Label Telecoms (BLU)

Mr Price (MRP)

Sasol (SOL)

Adcorp (ADR)

AVI (AVI)

Taste Holdings (TAS)

Investec Property Fund

City Lodge Hotel Group
​
Hyprop

GrowthPoint

Bidvest

Coronation

​MassMart (MSM)

Holdsport (HSP)

Vodacom (VOD)

Standard Bank (SBK)

Nedbank (NED)

Spar Group (SPP)

RMB Holdings (RBH)

FirstRand (FSR)

Steinhoff (SNH)

Pioneer Foods (PFG)

Famous Brands (FBR)

Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN)

Onelogix (OLG)

Peregrine (PGR)

PSG Group (PSG)

Quantum Foods (QFH)

Remgro (REM)

Spur Corporation (SUR)

Sanlam (SLM)

​Woolworths (WHL)

Capitec (CPI)

Richemont (CFR)

Curro (COH)

MediClinic (MEI)

Shoprite (SHP)

Grindrod (GND)

EOH

Pick 'n Pay Stores (PIK)

The Foshini Group (TFG)

Zeder (ZED)