Stocks closed flat on Monday, giving away only 18 points, with markets in the US and UK closed for respective holidays.

By 5pm the JSE all share index was flat, losing 0.08 percent; however gold miners picked up 1.73 percent, platinum counters collected 3.30 percent and industrials added 1.60 percent.

Resources shed 0.83 percent, banks lost 2.43 percent and financials gave up 1.70 percent.

The rand was last bid at 8.28 to the dollar from 8.30 when the JSE closed on Friday. Gold was quoted at $956.75/oz a troy ounce from $959.58/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1156/oz, from $1152.50/oz at its previous close.

A local trader said: "It's been a pretty dull day today, due to markets being closed in the US and UK. The JSE shed only a few points. Gold, platinum and industrial counters advanced, with the later driven by the MTN/Bharti release on a potential transaction between the two telecoms groups.

"Otherwise it's been a pretty uneventful day. Currencies haven't done too much, with the market waiting for the Dow and FTSE to come back online," he said.

I-Net Bridge