Stocks ended sharply in the black on Tuesday amid positive global sentiment and bargain hunting, following a sell-off last week.

By 5pm the JSE all share index was 1.59 percent firmer, with resources up 2.35 percent and platinum miners 1.55 percent stronger. Gold miners gained 0.75 percent.

Banks and financials picked up 2.92 percent, and 1.69 percent respectively, and industrials profited 0.75 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.68 to the dollar from 7.74 when the JSE closed on Monday.

Gold was quoted at $1071.76 a troy ounce from $11065/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1491.50/oz, from $1475/oz at the bourse's previous close.

A local equities dealer said: "Global sentiment is quite positive. Dow futures have been up for the entire day, commodity prices are looking good, and the rand is holding up well at 7.70 against the dollar.

"We have seen some bargain hunting on the local market, following last week's sell-off.

"We will track the US opening obviously, but things look pretty good," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that US stocks climbed rapidly on Tuesday, as investors guessed that a European bailout for Greece could be in the mix, broadly lifting stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 115 points, or 1.2 percent, at 10 021 in early trading. All but one of its components were in the black.

The rebound erased some of Monday's drop, in which the US stock market finished below the 10 000 mark for the first time since early November.

The euro and European stocks rose Tuesday after European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet left a Sydney summit a day earlier than planned--a move the market interpreted as increasing the chances for a bailout package later this week. A spokesman for the ECB said Trichet was always planning to attend a meeting of European leaders scheduled for Thursday.

On the JSE, Anglo American (AGL) gained 10.09 rand, or 3.65 percent, to 286.50 rand and BHP Billiton (BIL) picked up 5.33 rand, or 2.40 percent, to 227.33 rand.

Sasol (SOL) added 6.25 rand, or 2.30 percent, to 278 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum (AMS) dropped 14 rand or 1.91 percent to 719 rand, but Impala Platinum (IMP) gained 6.55 rand or 3.57 percent to 190.05 rand. Lonmin (LON) was 6.49 rand or 3.06 percent better off at 218.75 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) picked up five rand, or 1.78 percent, to 286 rand.

Highveld Steel (HVL) rose 3.39 rand, or 5.56 percent to 64.39 rand.

Arcelormittal (ACL) rose 185 cents higher, or 1.80 percent, to 104.75 rand. Diversified miner African Rainbow (ARI) pocketed five rand, or 3.14 percent, to 164 rand.

Among industrials, British American Tobacco (BTI) dropped 4.15 rand, or 1.64 percent, to 249.50 rand, SAB Miller (SAB) shed 3.45 rand, or 1.70 percent, to 200 rand, but Imperial (IPL) gained 3.24 rand, or 3.73 percent, to 89.99 rand.

Compagnie Richmont (CFR) added 76 cents, or 3.05 percent, to 25.70 rand.

Banker Nedbank (NED) added 1.10 rand, to 121.70 rand, Absa (ASA) increased 2.82 rand, or 2.15 percent, to 133.90 rand, and Standard Bank (SBK) was up 3.61 rand, or 3.49 percent, to 107 rand.

RMB Holdings (RMH) picked up 74 cents, or 2.56 percent, to 29.60 rand.

AECI (AFE) pocketed 1.50 rand, or 2.52 percent, to 61 rand.

Retailer JD Group (JDG) lost 1.37 rand, or 3.09 percent, to 43 rand, and Spar (SPP) shed 1.47 rand, or 2.02 percent, to 71.39 rand. The group said in a business update on Tuesday that it had experienced a challenging trading period for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, with turnover at 8.8 billion rand growing 9.2 percent on a comparative basis against the prior year.

"This performance continues to reflect positive volume growth and is strongly influenced by a significant decrease in food inflation," it said.

Construction group Aveng (AEG) moved 1.04 rand higher, or 2.89 percent, to 37.02 rand, with WBH Ovcon (WBO) up 2.99 rand, or 3.06 percent, to 100.59 rand.

Casbuild (CSB) grew 1.50 rand, or 2.07 percent, to 74 rand, and Basil Read Holdings (BSR) picked up 57 cents, or 4.86 percent, to 12.30 rand.

Among telecommunications groups, Telkom (TKG) rose 35 cents, or 1.05 percent, to 33.60 rand. MTN Group (MTN) garnered 1.75 rand, or 1.60 percent, to 111 rand, along with Vodacom (VOD), up 2.15 rand, or 4.03 percent, to 55.50 rand.

Media giant Naspers (NPN) was six rand richer, or 2.32 percent, at 265 rand.