Johannesburg - SA stocks ended slightly higher on Monday, led by a sharp rise in heavyweight Sasol as the price of crude oil rose.
Sasol [JSE:SOL], which sells its synthetics fuel at the same price as companies that import and refine crude oil, climbed 6.8% to R450.
Crude oil prices rose on Monday as investors shrugged off a strike at nine refineries and chemical plants in the United States and focused on a falling rig count in the US that signalled lower production down the line.
READ: Global oil prices rise
The benchmark JSE Top-40 index was up 0.17% to 45 188 and the broader All-share index was up 0.25% to 51 394.
The blue-chip index was also supported by mining stocks such BHP Billiton [JSE:BIL] and Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS], which rose 2% and 1.8%, respectively.
"The sector continues to exhibit improvement in short-term technical metrics providing potential trading opportunities although the medium-term fundamental outlook needs to be constrained," brokerage house Imara SP Reid said in a note.
On the downside, banks featured with Barclays Group Africa dropping 4.5% to R189.95 after Deutsche Bank cut the lender rating to 'sell' from 'hold'.
READ: JSE dips as investors take a breather
Rival Standard Bank lost almost a percent after the company said it sold its London business at $75m less than what had been previously agreed.
About 176 million shares changed hands, slightly below last year's daily average of 183 million shares, according to according to preliminary bourse data.