Ony marginal

Local markets closed marginally higher on Friday, with gold shares gaining 2.13% despite the strong currency which strengthened against the dollar (0.86%) and sterling (0.15%), but weakened against the euro (-0.28%).

South African bond yields closed stronger - the R153 strengthened by 6 points and the R157 by 11 points.

Commodities traded mixed - platinum lost 0.41%, oil gained 1.49% and gold was 1.11% up.

European markets closed in the red on Friday with the FTSE flat, the CAC lower by -0.55% and the DAX decreased by -0.69%.  In the US, markets ended negatively on Friday as the oil price closed at new record highs.

The Dow Jones lost 70 points or 0.69% and the Nasdaq followed suit by loosing 1.47%. US markets are closed for Columbus day today.

In the East the Nikkei is closed for Health sports day and the Hang Seng is currently trading marginally lower by -0.11%. Locally we expect markets to rest somewhat as some key international markets is closed for public holidays.