Johannesburg - Share prices on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were slightly lower at close on Friday ahead of the ANC's national executive committee meeting at the weekend.
The rand traded 0.5 percent lower on Friday than its Thursday’s close, but at R12.95 to the US dollar, it was still a high in two months.
The all share closed session slightly down 0.06 percent to 53996.14 points, while the blue-chip top 40 was 0.08 percent up.
The gold index gained 0.99 percent, while banks shed 0.65 percent and resources lost 0.38 percent.
The financial index lost 1.06 percent.
Food and drug retailers gained 0.86 percent while general retailers were down 0.03 percent.
Petrochemical company Sasol lost 1.27 percent to R392.95, while coal and iron ore producers, Exxaro lost 5.06 percent to R101.06.
Industrial group Bidvest gained 1.07 percent to R168.79 while Imperial Holdings shed 1.06 percent to R166.71.
Gold spot price was up 1.91 percent to $1267.07 (R16 284.90) an ounce.
Harmony Gold added 3.83 percent to R28.45, AngloGold Ashanti gained 1.3 percent to R149.75, while Sibanye shed 2.83 percent to R17.51.
Impala Platinum dropped 1.33 percent to close at R37.