Money SA economy
South African stocks closed in the black on Thursday, lifted in the afternoon by Dow Futures.
The local bourse had earlier seen profit taking for most of the day amid a decline in commodity prices.
By 5pm the JSE all share index was 0.32% firmer, with resources flat, (up 0.04%), platinum miners added 0.44%, but gold mining shares lost 1.99%.
Banks declined 0.31%, but financials gained 0.14%, while industrials firmed 0.71%.
Gold was quoted at 1,117.57 dollar a troy ounce from 1,119.23 dollar at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at 1,529.50 dollar/oz, from 1,543.50 dollar/oz at the bourse's previous close.
A local equities dealer said: "The JSE tracked Dow Futures in the afternoon session, having seen some profit taking earlier on."
Dow Jones Newswires reports that US stocks edged slightly higher Thursday morning as weekly jobless claims and January inflation at the wholesale level rose more than expected, but the materials sector strengthened as metals futures pared their earlier declines.
Wall Street economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires were expecting wholesale prices to rise 0.9% on the month in January. Core producer prices were seen rising 0.1%.
On the JSE, Anglo American found R1.02, to R296.90 and BHP Billiton scooped 54 cents, to R239.98. Sasol rose R2.50 to R281.50.
