The JSE lifted to a fresh record on Thursday on both the all-share and top 40 indices‚ led by mining and industrial shares.
At 12.47pm‚ the all-share index was up 0.91 percent to 37‚840.12 points‚ with the top 40 index gaining 1.01 percent to 33‚610.50 points. Gold miners and resources lifted 2.65 percent and 1.50 percent respectively and industrials gained 1.02 percent.
“The markets are in an optimistic space after China’s positive manufacturing data‚” said Ryan Wibberley‚ equity dealer at Investec Asset Management. “SABMiller’s interim results exceeded analysts’ expectations‚ which led to a surge in the share price.”
The China’s preliminary purchasing managers index jumped to 50.3 index points in November‚ which is regarded as being in expansionary territory.
Leading European shares were higher in the afternoon season, with London's FTSE 100 gaining 0.59 percent by 12.32pm local time.
Among individual stocks on the JSE, SABMiller (SAB) jumped 6.47 percent to an all-time high of R398.25. The global brewing giant posted a 14 percent rise in adjusted earnings per share to 118.1 US cents for the six months ended September.
Anglo American (AGL) was up 2.59 percent to R244.85 and BHP Billiton (BIL) gained 1.29 percent to R278.15.
AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) lifted 2.71 percent to R278.85, Gold Fields (GFI) rallied 2.81 percent to R107.38 and ArcelorMittal (ACL) recovered 6.94 percent to R30.04.
In banks, Absa (ASA) gave back 2.47 percent to R139.53 and Nedbank (NED) was 1.47 percent off at R180.40.
SAA denied rumours that its acting chief executive Nico Bezuidenhout had lied about his qualifications.
Thousands of farmers have applied to employ foreign workers after the introduction of a new minimum wage.
The rand plunged to its weakest level against the dollar in close to four years on Thursday.
