JSE closes higher as local currency weakens

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was firmer on Friday with miners and a weaker rand helping the all-share index rise 0.4 percent to 59717.2 points.

The local unit was weaker against major currencies, boding well for some heavyweight industrial and diversified resources stocks.

The benchmark R186 bond was bid at 8.57 percent, one basis point higher than the previous close.

The rand was last seen 0.59 percent weaker against the dollar at R12.33, after briefly touching R12.40.

Naspers lost 2.89 percent to R3,616.44 after reaching a record high on Tuesday, and Anglo American added 0.87 percent to R268.47.

MTN Group advanced 3.1 percent to R134.72.

The resources 20 index gained 0.68 percent, led higher by Anglo American, which rose 1.88 percent to R271.16, followed by BHP, which surged 0.42 percent to R259.5, and Exxaro, rising 1.33 percent to R167.17.

The top 40 rose 0.24 percent to 52,784 points, and Steinhoff International up 2.33 percent to R8.8.

Banks and insurance shares were mostly higher, with Barclays Africa gaining 2.24 percent to R170. Enditem