The JSE edged up into the black before close on Wednesday after trading in the red for most of the day. A firm opening on Wall Street, amid positive US company earning results, mainly by Wells Fargo, helped boost the local bourse.
The JSE's all share index inched up 0.46 percent to close at 26 564.650 points. The gold mining index closed unmoved (+ 0.04 percent), however resources slipped 0.16 percent while the platinum mining index shed 0.92 percent.
Banks and financials lifted 1.88 percent and 1.40 percent respectively while industrials rose 0.64 percent.
Gold miner Gold Fields added 1.06 percent to 105.10 rand.
Resources heavyweight Anglo American plc dipped 50 cents to 277.50 rand, however rival BHP Billiton climbed one rand to 223 rand. Synthetics giant Sasol withdrew 1.08 percent to 310.40 rand.
Among platinum miners, Anglo Platinum dropped 2.23 percent to 658 rand, Northam Platinum tumbled 3.01 percent to 37.05 rand, while Lonmin retreated 1.27 percent to 206.55 rand.
Among diversified miners, African Rainbow gained 1.12 percent to 154.17 rand while Exxaro lost 1.63 percent to 92.47 rand.
Steel maker Highveld Steel plummeted 4.18 percent to 66.50 rand, while metals group ArcelorMittal pulled back 1.66 percent to 112.85 rand.
Among industrials, brewer SABMiller lifted 1.99 rand to 202.61 rand, British American Tobacco gained 1.09 percent to 243.26 rand, however Imperial plunged 5.45 percent to 78 rand, while Tiger Brands dropped 1.50 percent to 153.73 rand.
Paper giant Sappi jumped 2.13 percent to 26.35 rand.
Food retailer Pick n Pay reported headline earnings per share for continuing operations for the six months ended August 2009 of 100.30 cents – up 11.1 percent from the 90.31 cents reported last year. Diluted HEPS from continuing operations amounted to 98.85 cents from 89.76 cents and diluted HEPS 84.64 cents from 80.53 cents before. The group declared an interim dividend per share of 39.75 cents for Pick n Pay Stores (+11.2 percent) and 19.31 cents for Pick n Pay Holdings (+10.6 percent). The group's share price lifted 2.41 percent to 40.45 rand.
Banking giant Standard Bank collected 2.27 percent to 104 rand, while FirstRand jumped 2.92 percent to 17.65 rand.
