JSE gains more than 2%

The JSE ended in positive territory on Wednesday as the market rebound from Tuesday's volatile session.

The JSE all share index gained 2.43% while resources added 2.86% and platinum miners closed 4.22% firmer. Gold miners, however, lost 1.33%. Banks added 2.03%, financials gained 2.24% and industrials were 1.93% on the day. Gold was quoted at $1,227.26/oz from $1 236.76/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 539.50/oz from $1 523/oz at the JSE's last close.

"We have had quite a strong day relative to world markets," a local equities trader said, adding that investors were again finding the confidence to return to the market.

The JSE ended in the red on Tuesday after the local bourse tracked the waxing and waning fortunes of its global counterparts amid continued jitters over the European sovereign debt crisis.

"We have been keeping an eye on international markets," said the local trader, noting that Asian markets also turned positive towards the close while the US was trading higher on Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's positive statements on the US economy.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that US stocks rose on Wednesday as investors found encouragement in Bernanke's testimony and also on a report of surging Chinese exports.

On the JSE, Anglo was up R10.27 or 3.74% to R284.57 while BHP Billiton gained R7.65 or 3.90% to R203.65 while Sasol advanced R6 or 2.23% to R275.