After earlier trading at a fresh all-time high on Wednesday, the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) shifted into reverse gear in the afternoon as players turned to profit-taking and commodities came off their earlier highs.

Having earlier hit a new record high of 21,636.250, the all share index ended 0.15 percent in the red, while the gold mining index slid 0.84 percent and the platinum mining index gave up 0.51 percent.

Industrials, however, were up 0.48 percent, while financials shed 0.14 percent and the banking index declined 1.20 percent. Resources finished 0.69 percent in the red.

The rand was bid at 6.06 per U.S. dollar from 6.03 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at 675.45 dollars a troy once from 664.40 dollars at the JSE's last close.

Spot gold climbed to 677.30 dollars a troy ounce - its highest level since 1980, on the weak U.S. dollar and the oil price, which is trading at record levels, traders said.

Platinum also reached another all-time high of 1,187.50 dollars per ounce.

Source: Xinhua