The JSE soared on Monday bolstered by robust global markets and tolerance for riskier assets like equities.
At the close, the JSE all share index rose 2.22 percent, with resources 3.13 percent higher and platinum miners 3.01 percent stringer. Gold miners added 0.41 percent. Banks were 2.27 percent up, financials rose 1.92 percent and industrials edged up 1.47 percent.
The rand was bid at 7.61 to the dollar from 7.72 at the JSE's close on Friday. Gold was quoted at $1200.57 a troy ounce from $1218.65/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1559.50/oz from $1538.50/oz at the JSE's last close.
Traders said volumes were light largely due to the FIFA World Cup, which drew traders away from their desks.
One trader said the local market stayed strong in thin trade for the rest of the day. Investors appeared to be positioning themselves for the futures close-out on Thursday and the holiday on Wednesday, the trader said.
"Traders are unlikely to take unusually big positions ahead of the close-out," the trader said.
Another trader said positive sentiment on the global markets supported the local stock exchange.
The trader said risk appetite was returning as indicated by the Vix index, a key measure of volatility. It was noteworthy that this Vix index suggested that the sell-off was unlikely at least in the short term.
The dollar and firmer commodity prices, especially copper price, were supporting resources stocks.
Dow Jones Newswires reports US stocks gained on Monday, as ebbing fears over a contraction in global growth brought back appetite for riskier assets.
Strong euro zone data and encouraging comments from a member of the US Federal Reserve encouraged modest optimism, sending global stock markets climbing.
"It looks to me like stocks are passing the fear phase here over Europe and China," said Jerry Harris, president of asset management at Sterne Agee.
"China does not need to mount a big campaign to re-accelerate their economy.
All they've got to do is take their foot off the brake and I strongly suspect they're in the process of doing that."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 70 points, or 0.7 percent, to 10281, in recent trading. Caterpillar led the measure's gains, rising 1.9 percent as expectations for global demand rose.
The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.1 percent to 2269. The Standard & Poor's 500-share index gained 0.8 percent to 1099, with all but one of its sectors positive. The industrial and consumer discretionary sectors led the advances, while financials lagged.
