Johannesburg - The JSE remained on the front foot at noon on Tuesday in line with the main global stock markets, buoyed by US Federal Reserve chairperson Ben Bernanke's positive comments on support for the US labour market.
In midday trade, the JSE All Share
[JSE:J203] index was up 0.70% to 33 900.06 points, led by banking stocks which lifted 1.28%. Platinum miners gained 1.08%, resources were up 0.43%.
Industrials added 0.75%, financials advanced 0.99% and the gold index picked up 0.96%.
The rand was trading at 7.56 to the dollar, from 7.58 at the JSE's close on Monday. Gold was quoted at US$1 693.05 a troy ounce from US$1,685.69/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 659.70/oz from $1 644/oz.
"The US futures are pointing to a firmer open, which bodes well for market sentiment," said Jean Hamann, assistant portfolio manager at asset management group Körner Perspective.
European stock markets were also higher on improved sentiment, as investors welcomed remarks from Bernanke that low interest rates are still needed to support the US labour market and better-than-expected data on the French economy, Dow Jones Newswires reports.
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.21% to 5,915.17 points at noon local time.
Bernanke said on Monday that continued accommodative policies were needed to confront deep problems in the jobs market.
Strategist Gerard Lane at Shore Capital viewed Bernanke's comments as suggesting that the central bank chief is broadly in favour of providing further support for the economy.