JSE closes higher ahead of public holidays

Shares on Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) closed higher on Monday, ahead of local public holidays coming up this week and next.

The all share index edged up 0.11 percent at 52,985.31 points, while the top 40 index added 0.17 percent.

As the public holiday (Freedom Day) begins on Wednesday, traders expect the week to be fairly quiet.

At 11: 30 a.m., the rand was trading at R14.5143 to the U.S. dollar from R14.4067 at Friday's close. It was at R16.3346 against the euro from R16.1626 previously, and at R20.9354 against the pound from R20.8413 previously.

Among individual shares on the JSE, Anglo American was off 4.34 percent to R144.08, with BHP Billiton losing 3.66 percent to R196.83.

Sasol shed 3.41 precent to R446.45, and Gold Fields lost 3.93 percent to R58.13.

British American Tobacco edged up 2.39 percent to R877.15 while Richemont rose 1.94 precent to R96.15.

Among retailers, Woolies added 1.59 percent at R89 and Massmart was up 1.48 percent to R123.81.