JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) close firmer on Friday, as the U.S. dollar strengthened.
The all share index closed 1.06 percent higher at 55,579.92 points, with the top 40 index gaining 1.09 percent to 49, 376.46 points.
The industrial index was 1.32 percent higher, the financial index traded 0.59 percent stronger and the resources index was 0.94 percent up. The gold index jumped 1.31 percent in response to a slightly higher gold price, as the dollar strengthened.
The South Africa's rand, which traded as low as R13.70 on Thursday, was back at R13.51 to the dollar at close of session, but experts predict that the local unit was likely to weaken again because of the political situation in the country.
The JSE rally was spread across the board, though industrial stocks accounted for the bulk of the gains because of their big influence on the all share.
Anglo American added 2.53 percent to R242.41 and Kumba Iron Ore 3 percent to R220.41.
Gold Fields added 2.65 percent to R59.29 and AngloGold Ashanti 1.34 percent to R127.18.
Some financial shares, including Sanlam and Old Mutual rallied after they were under pressure lately and lost more than 2.5 percent over the previous seven days. Sanlam traded 1.79 percent higher at R67.66 and Old Mutual was 1.65 stronger at R35.07. Enditem
