S. African stocks end 2017 higher

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) all share ended the year 17.47 percent higher at 59,504.67 points, after a tough two years which saw it gain just 1.85 percent in 2015 and lose 0.08 percent last year. The all-share ended Friday's trading 0.94 percent higher.

The blue-chip top 40 index rose 0.89 percent to 52,533 points, 4.8 percent down from its 55,192 peak and 19.7 percent higher than a year ago.

The banking index advanced 1.82 percent, led higher by Rand Merchant Holding's 3.23 percent rise to R79.17, Capitec's of 2.52 percent to R1,097.96, and Barclays Africa Group's of 2.24 percent to R181.99.

Spar rose 3.25 percent to R203.33. The grocery chains were among Friday's best performers. Shoprite 2.55 percent to R221.19, and Pick n Pay 2.29 percent to R69.56.

Kumba Iron Ore climbed a 137 percent annual gain. Retailer TFG, whose brands include Foschini, Home, Markham, and Total Sports, rose 2.79 percent to R197.33.

South Africa's rand was 0.28 percent firmer at 12.34 per dollar from Thursday's R12.40, at R14.74 to the euro from R14.81, and at R16.61 to the pound from R16.67. The euro was at 1.1987 dollars, from 1.1988 dollars.

The local unit firmed to the dollar on Friday after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament had failed to hold President Jacob Zuma to account for allegedly using state funds to upgrade his homestead, Nkandla. Enditem