Stocks closed over five percent in the black on Monday after being boosted by rocketing gold miners and resources and a firmer opening by the Dow.

By 5pm the all share index had added 5.08 percent, led by a 17.72 percent rise in gold miners, a 10.32 percent gain in resources and a 5.99 percent increase in platinum stocks. Banks added 2.27 percent, financials edged up 0.38 percent and industrials firmed 2.56 percent.

The rand was last bid at 10.19 to the dollar from 10.53 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was last quoted at $823.10 a troy ounce from $776.70/oz at the JSE's last close.

The platinum price was at $856.50/oz, up 5.55 percent from its previous close of $811.50 and Brent crude was at $49.75 per barrel from its previous close of $49.19.

"Gold miners and resources rallied nicely and held the market up," a local trader said.

"The dollar has weakened slightly and that is what is giving commodity stocks a boost," he said.

"For now market players will continue to watch and get direction from global markets," he added.

Earlier, in Japan, the Nikkei was up 0.71 percent and in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was down 1.02 percent.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that US stocks added to Friday's gains in early trade on Monday, as traders hoped the government's rescue plan for Citigroup would succeed where other bank-stabilisation efforts have failed.

The DJIA was last up 2.15 percent.

On the JSE, resources giant Anglo American added 9.84 percent to 196.06 rand and BHP Billiton put on 13.15 percent to 142 rand.

Paper and packaging group Sappi was down 3.40 percent to 35.50 rand and Mondi lost 7.94 percent to 29 rand.

Petrochemical group Sasol gained 3.60 percent to 230 rand.

ArcelorMittal added 36 cents to 63.45 rand and Kumba Iron Ore firmed 2.14 percent to 143 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti jumped 14.07 percent to 210.75 rand, Gold Fields gained 21.40 percent to 78 rand and Harmony firmed 22.11 percent to 81.20 rand.

Among platinum miners, Anglo Platinum gained 2.29 percent to 418 rand, Impala Platinum was up 6.22 percent to 104.10 rand and Lonmin added 2.87 percent to 125.50 rand.

In diversified miners, African Rainbow was up 1.95 percent to 83.60 rand and Exxaro firmed 4.04 percent to 59.30 rand.

Among industrials, brewer SABMiller gained 4.38 percent to 155 rand, Tiger Brands collected 2.39 percent to 130 rand, Barloworld added 6.31 percent to 43.30 rand and Imperial was up 5.35 percent to 47.25 rand.

Among bankers, Standard Bank added 1.36 percent to 74.50 rand Nedbank rose 2.90 percent to 89.01 rand, Absa was up 4.28 percent to 98.02 rand and FirstRand collected 2.99 percent to 14.11 rand.

Financial services group Old Mutual lost 4.56 percent to 7.53 rand and Sanlam was off 2.44 percent to 16 rand.

African Bank added 6.63 percent to 23.16 rand. The micro-lender earlier reported a 21 percent decline in headline earnings per share (HEPS) after a BEE charge. HEPS before the BEE charge declined by six percent to 252.1 cents.

Retailer Woolies gained 7.41 percent to 11.60 rand, Truworths was up 1.94 percent to 30.99 rand and Foschini added 4.88 percent to 43 rand.

Construction group Aveng was up 8.98 percent to 28.40 rand, Murray & Roberts collected 11.54 percent to 43.50 rand and WBHO added 6.70 percent to 93.36 rand.

Telecommunication group MTN Group rose 4.58 percent to 100.40 rand and Telkom gained 2.55 percent to 100.50 rand.

Netcare firmed 1.16 percent to 6.99 rand. The healthcare group earlier reported diluted headline earnings per share of 60.5 cents for the year ended September down 18 percent from the previous year's 73.8 cents. Group revenue from continuing operations was up 17 percent to R21.7-billion, while operating profit was 13 percent higher at R3.37-billion.

Building materials supplier Buildworks was up 12.50 percent to 90 cents. The group earlier posted 11.04 cents in maiden full year headline earnings per share, in line with the pre-listing statement forecast of 11 cents.

Automotive components supplier Dorbyl was unchanged at 6.50 rand. The group earlier reported that its headline loss per share for the six months ended 30 September 2008 had widened to 115.5 cents from 38.9 cents the same time last year.

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