South African stocks close higher

South Africa's Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was firmer by close of session on Friday.

Platinum shares gained despite a softer spot price, while general retailers were marginally higher after five consecutive days of losses.

The all share index was 0.65 percent higher at 53,500.07 points and the blue-chip top 40 added 1.99 percent. Platinums were up 4.46 percent, banks recovered 3.47 percent and financials rose 1.11 percent. Industrials added 1.61 percent.

The South African rand at 05:00 p.m. local time was trading at R14.49 to the U.S. dollar, R19.23 to the British pound and R16.17 to the euro.

Among individual shares on the JSE, Anglo American was up 5.07 percent at R152.99, while BHP Billiton was 1.35 percent firmer at R190.69.

Among platinums, Impala Platinum rose 6.89 percent to R66.10 following the release of annual results earlier in the week.

Barclays Africa gained 3.95 percent to R148.652 and Standard Bank climbed 4.17 percent to R135.66.

Mr Price shed another 1.92 percent to R166.95, as disappointing sales update on Wednesday continued to dampen confidence. It lost 23 percent this week.

Among the day's top ten gainers was PPC Limited, whose shares advanced 7.87 percent to R6.58. Endit