JSE closes higher as South Africa's rand firms

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South African stocks at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) closed firmer on Monday as the market shrugged off a weaker close on Friday.

South Africa rand was steady at R14.51 to the U.S. dollar.

The All-share index closed 0.95 percent higher at 51,320.52 points and the top 40 index added 1.03 percent at 45,109.77 points.

General retailers edged up 4.16 percent, banks gained 3.96 percent, and resources rose 2.17 percent.

Among the banks, Absa added 4.83 percent to R151.8. Standard Bank rose 3.88 percent to R165.84.

Naspers was under pressure. It slipped 3.98 percent to R2,457.23, extending losses this year to 26.6 percent. Enditem