Johannesburg - Shares on the JSE ended a see-saw session slightly stronger on Monday with mining shares adding the most points to the main index as commodity prices pushed higher.
Nickel hit its highest level in nearly 14 months during the session on Indonesia's ore export ban, now in its third month, and the prospect of tougher sanctions on Russia over its actions towards Ukraine.
Mining heavyweight BHP Billiton, which runs one of the world's largest nickel mines, rose 1.5% to R338.97.
Investors also took their cue from a firmer opening on Wall Street after starting the session on the back foot due to tensions in Ukraine.
"With all the geopolitical issues resurfacing out in Ukraine and Russia, the market was under pressure this morning," said Martin Lentsoane, Managing Director at Lehumo Capital.
"We turned the corner in late afternoon trade after a couple of numbers came out in the US, which were positive," Lentsoane added.
US retail sales recorded their largest gain in one-and-a-half years in March, a sign the recovery in world's biggest economy is on track.
The JSE Top-40 index inched up 0.34% at 43 265.04 and the broader All-share index edged up 0.4% at 48 213.26.
Reunert climbed 1.9% to 68.50 after the electronic products supplier said it would sell its mobile phone customer base to both MTN Group and Vodacom.
MTN was little changed at 219.25 and rival Vodacom slipped 0.8% at 136.40.
On the downside, Foschini Group tumbled 2.7% to R105.50 after brokerage house, Barclays Capital, cuts its rating on the stock to "underweight" from "equal weight".
Trade was average with nearly 180 million shares changing hands and decliners outpacing advancers 149 to 146, while 62 shares were unchanged.
Nickel hit its highest level in nearly 14 months during the session on Indonesia's ore export ban, now in its third month, and the prospect of tougher sanctions on Russia over its actions towards Ukraine.
Mining heavyweight BHP Billiton, which runs one of the world's largest nickel mines, rose 1.5% to R338.97.
Investors also took their cue from a firmer opening on Wall Street after starting the session on the back foot due to tensions in Ukraine.
"With all the geopolitical issues resurfacing out in Ukraine and Russia, the market was under pressure this morning," said Martin Lentsoane, Managing Director at Lehumo Capital.
"We turned the corner in late afternoon trade after a couple of numbers came out in the US, which were positive," Lentsoane added.
US retail sales recorded their largest gain in one-and-a-half years in March, a sign the recovery in world's biggest economy is on track.
The JSE Top-40 index inched up 0.34% at 43 265.04 and the broader All-share index edged up 0.4% at 48 213.26.
Reunert climbed 1.9% to 68.50 after the electronic products supplier said it would sell its mobile phone customer base to both MTN Group and Vodacom.
MTN was little changed at 219.25 and rival Vodacom slipped 0.8% at 136.40.
On the downside, Foschini Group tumbled 2.7% to R105.50 after brokerage house, Barclays Capital, cuts its rating on the stock to "underweight" from "equal weight".
Trade was average with nearly 180 million shares changing hands and decliners outpacing advancers 149 to 146, while 62 shares were unchanged.