OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 4.30pm.
MOST counters ended firmly in positive territory on Monday, the overall finishing 1,01% or 73 points up.
With markets in the United Kingdom and United States closed, dealers said futures buying helped the local bourse fair better.
The financial index closed 2% or 180 points good, while the industrial index ended play 1,15% or 91 points better.
Gold shares finished 1,18% or 11 points better. Only resources took the knocks, ending 0,07% or 3 points weaker.
By late afternoon gold was trading at $273,10 and ounce on international markets.
Dealers said trade was thin and the mood cautious ahead of a run of important domestic and US data later in the week which will dictate market direction.
At 4pm the rand was trading at R7,13 to the dollar and R10,53 to the pound.
Asia markets ended up, the Nikkei 1,48% or 237 points better, while the Hang-Seng finished 1,84% or 252 points in the black.