MINING, IT and financial stocks hoisted the South African bourse to a firmer close on a stronger gold price and US markets and a weaker currency, which benefits resources and rand-hedge stocks, dealers said. Anglo American proved a winner, lifting 2.72% or R13.20 to end on Thursday at R499. Dealers said Anglo, which is also listed in London, had benefited from the weaker rand and increasing investor confidence that an Anglo-led deal to take over diamond giant De Beers would go through. One dealer said the stock had been helped by news that the European Commission would investigate a joint venture between De Beers’ and luxury goods group LVMH. De Beers ended 0.57% or 180 cents higher at R317.40, off an earlier high of R325. ”It’s been a rocky ride today. The market reacted to the Fed, but since then it has come off its top levels,” said one dealer. – Reuters