South African stocks were 236 points higher in early trade on Friday thanks to a positive close on Wall Street, with miners and commodity stocks offering firm support.

At 9.15am the JSE all share index had gained 0.93 percent, with resources firming 1.33 percent, gold counters adding 1.88 percent and platinum counters gaining 1.30 percent.

Banks and financials both collected 0.59 percent and industrials were up 0.63 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.55 to the dollar from 7.57 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1001.11 a troy ounce from $994.22 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1288.50 an ounce, from $1281.50 at its previous close.

"We have edged up this morning. The Dow picked up a bit last night. It seems like people are afraid to miss out on the rally," a trader said.

"We are quiet on the data side. The miners and commodities are picking up and we will have to see what happens this afternoon. It looks like we will end at these levels or higher.

"The rand is still strong, but it seems like the stronger the rand, the more overseas buyers come in. At the moment Dow futures are down, but it's still early, we will have to wait and see what happens this afternoon," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that another broad rally pushed major stock averages to their highest closes of 2009 on Thursday, with a diverse group including Walt Disney and Procter & Gamble pacing the market higher while AT&T lead a surge for telecommunications firms.

In finishing higher for the fifth straight day, the DJIA closed up 80.26 points, or 0.84 percent, at 9627.48, its highest close since Oct. 6. Gains were led by a diverse spectrum of companies, including media and entertainment giant Walt Disney, up 1.41, or 5.2 percent, to 28.36; industrial 3M, up 1.21, or 1.7 percent, to 74.39; and energy firm Chevron, up 1.12, or 1.6 percent, to 71.45.

Among other indexes, the S&P 500 rose 10.77, or 1.04 percent, to 1044.14, also marking its highest close since October 6. All of the S&P 500's sectors finished in the green, led by a 2.1 percent jump for telecommunications companies.

Asian shares are mostly higher on Friday thanks to gains on Wall Street on Thursday and bullish Chinese economic data.

In Japan, the Nikkei ended down 0.7 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was last up 0.8 percent.

European stock markets are likely to open higher but investors will watch for signs to take profit, especially should US markets start with an ill- defined pattern.

Back in Johannesburg, Anglo American plc was up 2.47 rand to 260.02 rand and BHP Billiton gained 3.55 rand, or 1.70 percent, to 212.80 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol added 1.90 rand to 303 rand.

Highveld Steel put on 1.27 rand, or 1.69 percent, to 76.27 rand and Kumba Iron Ore advanced 1.50 rand to 255 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti strengthened 5.60 rand, or 1.75 percent, to 324.75 rand, Goldfields was up 1.65 rand, or 1.55 percent, to 108.15 rand and Harmony advanced 1.92 rand, or 2.28 percent, to 86.15 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum gained 6.91 rand, or 1 percent, to 698.98 rand, Impala Platinum firmed 2.83 rand, or 1.54 percent, to 186.33 rand and Lonmin was up 4.94 rand, or 2.35 percent, to 215 rand.

In diversified miners African Rainbow added 2.10 rand, or 1.33 percent, to 160.10 rand and Exxaro strengthened 1.20 rand, or 1.33 percent, to 91.50 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, brewer SABMiller put on 1.08 rand to 183.74 rand and TigerBrands advanced 2.49 rand, or 1.64 percent, to 153.99 rand.

Banking group Standard Bank collected 70 cents to 99.05 rand and Absa edged up 50 cents to 125.50 rand.

Financial services group Old Mutual inched 10 cents higher to 11.90 rand and Sanlam rose 23 cents, or 1.14 percent, to 20.40 rand.

Retailer Truworths collected 51 cents, or 1.31 percent, to 39.45 rand, Pick n Pay was up 54 cents, or 1.46 percent, to 37.59 rand, Lewis gained one rand, or 1.85 percent, to 55 rand and JD Group put on 50 cents to 42.80 rand.

Cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement advanced 34 cents, or 1.01 percent, to 33.96 rand.

Telecommunications group MTN Group collected 52 cents to 127.82 rand, Telkom was up 45 cents, or 1 percent, to 45.25 rand and Vodacom edged up 20 cents to 54.70 rand.

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