JOHANNESBURG, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was firmer on Tuesday despite S&P Global Ratings downgraded South Africa's credit rating to subinvestment grade.
Moody's was also expected to downgrade SA's credit rating following its statement on Monday that it was placing the country's Baa2 rating on review.
The all share was up 0.39 percent at 52,660.74 points and the blue-chip top 40 added 0.41 percent. Banks extended their losses from last Thursday and down by 0.1 percent, while financials shed 0.04 percent.
Gold miners firmed 3.98 percent, platinum stocks gained 5.05 percent and resources gained 1.34 percent.
Among commodity stocks that have global exposure, Glencore added 2.06 percent to R53.96 and Anglo American rose 1.46 percent to R207.1. Sasol gained 0.04 percent to R405.16.
The four major banks were down, Standard Bank lost 0.68 percent to R142.68.
British American Tobacco lost 0.58 percent to R885.82. Sibanye lost 0.7 percent to R32.79.
Platinum miner Anglo American firmed 3.08 percent to R317.95 and Impala Platinum gained 4.77 percent to R48.5.
