Johannesburg - SA stocks ended higher on Friday for the second straight session of gains, lifted in part by monthly US non-farm payrolls data which showed the jobs market in the world's largest economy remained on a strong footing.
Leading the pack was Royal Bafokeng Platinum [JSE:RBP], which shot up 5.8% after it said it expected full-year earnings to rise between 33 and 42%. It was the day's biggest gainer on the All-share index.
Among blue chips, Sasol [JSE:SOL] was the session's star, adding 3.8% to over R467 as Benchmark Brent crude futures climbed $1.85 to $58.42 a barrel, adding to gains of almost 20% since last Friday.
Sasol has risen almost in tandem, adding over 15% since last Friday, regaining some of the ground lost in the face of crude's steep recent decline.
But it said on Friday that lower oil prices were expected to negatively affect its results for the rest of the 2015 financial year.
Sibanye Gold [JSE:SGL] shed 1.8% after it suspended work at its Beatrix mine because of a flare up of violence between rival unions.
The benchmark Top-40 index rose 0.65% to 45 744.27. The wider All-share index climbed 0.60% to 51 988.32.