The JSE opened firmer on Monday as banks and financials led the pack on renewed optimism ahead of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s medium-term budget policy statement on Wednesday. Reports over the weekend indicated the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) might be re-considering the fraud charges against Gordhan, as well as against previous SARS top officials Ivan Pillay and Oupa Magashula. It was revealed that NPA head Shaun Abrahams met President. Jacob Zuma in Luthuli House a day before initiating the charges against the three, which raises questions about the impartiality of a trial, should it continue. Gordhan is set to appear in court on November 2. At 9.38am the all share was 0.70% higher at 51,991.60 and the blue-chip top 40 added 0.76%. Banks rose 1.32% and financials added 1.01%. General retailers were 1.14% higher and the property index added 0.89%. The gold index dropped 3.46%. The Dow Jones industrial average closed flat on Friday (-0.09%) but strong quarterly results...
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