Johannesburg - South African stocks hit fresh lifetime highs on Tuesday morning in line with global markets that have been cheered by signs that the US fiscal cliff budget issue would be settled.
The All Share [JSE:J203] index climbed 0.48% to 38,860.54, the highest level in the bourse's 17-year history.
The blue-chip index touched a record 34,478.94 soon after trade opened, but retraced to 34,416.17, or 0.4% higher than the previous close.
Johannesburg's equity market had been closed for a public holiday on Monday.