South Africa’s main stock index advances

Bloomberg

South Africa’s main stock index advance 0.2% by 9:45 am in Johannesburg as a stronger rand boosts shares in banks and gains for diversified miners counter weakness in gold and platinum producers.
Investors will be keeping an eye on developments around a national strike by unions representing workers across a range of industries, to highlight a litany of grievances, including job losses, an inadequate public transport system, corruption and state spending curbs.
Rising iron ore prices lift diversified miners, countering weakness from precious metals producers, lifting the gauge for mining stocks by 0.2%.
Sub-index of gold stocks retreats for a second day, down 0.4% as bullion prices dropped following President Donald Trump announcement that he had ended talks with Democrats on a new fiscal stimulus package until after the November presidential election.
, a move that roiled financial markets and boosted the dollar.