The JSE closed the week by posting a fifth consecutive day of broad-based gains, following consistently rand-supportive economic data and policy commentary from the US. The all share closed 0.56% higher at 53‚598 points and the blue-chip top 40 added 0.54%. General retailers rose 2.08%‚ banks 0.91%‚ resources 0.61%‚ industrials 0.55%‚ food and drug retailers 0.54%‚ financials 0.53%‚ platinums 0.51%, and property 0.46%. The all share ended the week 3.27% higher‚ its best weekly performance in 2017. The release of lower-than-expected US consumer inflation and retail sales data re-affirmed expectations the US Federal Reserve’s planned interest-rate increase cycle would need to be gradual. US data releases, along with a University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey, provided a "hat-trick" of disappointing numbers for the world’s largest economy on Friday, said Oanda analyst Craig Erlam. The Fed took the personal consumption index — which is three weeks away — more seriously, but Frid...
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