Stocks came off the day's best levels, but still managed to end 112 points firmer on Monday supported by strong precious metal counters and positive trade on Wall Street.

By 5pm the JSE all share index had collected 0.48 percent, with resources up 0.62 percent. Gold miners firmed 3.05 percent and platinum counters added 1.80 percent.

Banks collected 0.79 percent, financials were up 0.91 percent and industrials were flat, up 0.10 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.93 to the dollar from 8.08 when the JSE closed on Friday. Gold was quoted at $948.73/oz a troy ounce from $937.97/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1184/oz, from $1171/oz at its previous close.

"We ended slightly up. We came off the day's highs, that was probably just some profit taking before the market closed," a local trader said.

"The US market opened strongly. The gold and platinum indices are the main gainers of the day and they gave the market support.

"There are a lot of shares that are still negative, so I'd say we had a bit of a mixed day. The rand is very strong and that is holding back gains in the platinum and gold stocks," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that US stocks rallied broadly on Monday as Goldman Sachs forecast the biggest second-half move in stocks in more than a decade and the June index of leading indicators signalled the economy has moved closer to a recovery.

Thanks to upbeat results and outlooks from the likes of Goldman Sachs Group and Intel, the Standard & Poor's 500 surged 7 percent last week. Through July 17, 71 percent of the 55 S&P 500 components that have reported results have beaten expectations, 9 percent have matched them and 20 percent have missed, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters.

In the wake of these better-than-expected earnings reports, Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its forecast for the S&P 500, saying an improvement in earnings will drive a sharp second-half rally. Goldman Sachs raised its year-end S&P 500 target to 1060 from 940, reflecting a potential price return of about 13 percent from current levels.

Recently, the S&P 500 rose 5 points to 945.60. The index hit as high as 949 earlier in the session, within 1 point of its 2009 high, made in June. That level should serve as resistance in the near term, with the index slipping slightly since breaking above 948.

On a technical basis, the S&P 500 has rallied after it failed to break through support around 875 and 880, according to Mary Ann Bartels, an analyst at Merrill Lynch. Bartels said technology is leading the rally and may lead the market longer term.

When the JSE closed, the DJIA had collected 0.32 percent.

On the JSE, Anglo American lost 1.96 percent to 232.75 rand and BHP Billiton was up 1.67 rand to 193.52 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol gained one rand to 283 rand.

Paper group Sappi eased five cents to 23.35 rand. It earlier said that market conditions remained weak in the June quarter in all its major markets. Sales volumes for the group were similar to the prior quarter and prices realised were under pressure in most regions, the company said in a trading update.

For the quarter ended June 2009 Sappi said it expects to report improved operating results, excluding special items, compared with the quarter ended March 2009 for its European business, which it expects to return to profitability, and for its North American business, as a result of synergy achievements in Europe, and cost and input price reductions.

ArcelorMittal firmed 2.58 percent to 98.99 rand and Kumba Iron Ore gained 1.59 percent to 192 rand, but Highveld Steel was off 2.13 percent to 61 rand.

Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti rose 4.04 percent to 308.52 rand, Gold Fields collected 1.01 percent to 93.94 rand and Harmony firmed 4.31 percent to 76 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum gained 2.69 percent to 534 rand, Impala Platinum added 1.44 percent to 176.50 rand and Lonmin collected 50 cents to 149.50 rand.

In diversified miners, African Rainbow put on 2.37 percent to 130 rand and Exxaro rose 1.27 percent to 79.75 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, brewer SABMiller gave up 1.56 percent to 170.11 rand and British American Tobacco declined 1.43 percent to 230.65 rand.

Banking group Nedbank was up 1.12 percent to 108.20 rand.

The group earlier said that its diluted headline earnings per share for the six months ended June are expected to be between 32 percent and 37 percent lower than the 719 cents per share reported for the comparative period to June 2008.

In its 2008 results announcement and in the trading update for the first quarter of 2009, the group cautioned that the deteriorating macroeconomic environment both globally and domestically was likely to make 2009 significantly more challenging for the South African banking sector.

Absa firmed 1.01 percent to 119.49 rand and FirstRand added 2.26 percent to 15.40 rand.

Financial services group Old Mutual was up 2.04 percent to 11.53 rand and Sanlam gained 1.34 percent to 18.85 rand.

Media group Naspers rose 1.95 percent to 241 rand but Avusa declined 1.98 percent to 19.85 rand.

Among retailers, Woolies edged up 1.13 percent to 14.26 rand, Truworths collected 1.61 percent to 40.49 rand, Foschini added 3.43 percent to 53.99 rand, Shoprite was up 1.53 percent to 59.75 rand and Steinhoff collected 1.35 percent to 14.29 rand.

However, Lewis lost 2.13 percent to 52.85 rand.

Construction group Aveng was up 1.69 percent to 36.20 rand, Murray & Roberts gained 1.98 percent to 50.99 rand and WBHO advanced 1.31 percent to 110.95 rand.

Among telecommunications groups, MTN Group was down 95 cents to 128.95 rand, but Telkom edged up 10 cents to 40.60 rand and Vodacom collected 1.27 percent to 58 rand.

I-Net Bridge