JSE closes higher as gold mines edge up 6.99 percent

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) all share closed 1.01 percent firmer on Friday, as traders await the Standard and Poor's credit- rating review. Fitch Ratings may also release its report on June 8.

The all share index was up 1.01 percent to 54259.36 points, while gold mining shares were on upwards trend at 6.99 percent.

At the close of trading session the rand was trading at R15.13 to the U.S. dollar, R17.34 to the euro and R22.18 to the British pound.

Gold climbed 2.41 percent to 1239.77 dollars an ounce, silver added 2.30 percent to 16.33 dollars an ounce, and platinum had climbed 2.87 percent to 979.40 dollars an ounce.

Among individual shares on the JSE, Glencore was up 2.39 percent to R29.54, with Sasol gained 3.43 percent to R 485.19.

On the top ten gainers list was Harmony Gold Mining Company,whose shares gained 9.84 percent to sell at R51.22 after 1,570,506 shares were exchanged in 1,198 deals today.

Also on the list was Gold Fields (GFI), whose shares climbed to R61.80 after 3,265 deals traded 2,725,492 shares, a boost in the share price of 9.01. Endit