The All Share Index opened higher by 98.1 points or 0.18% as the Rand drifted marginally weaker. Our local bourse traded sideways to close the trading session 0.26% in the black. Financials edged higher to close the day in positive territory by 0.13%, with the likes of Absa and Firstrand trading higher by 0.72% and 0.63% respectively. Resources were the best performing sector with the index closing 0.76% higher, led by Anglo American and BHP Billiton which ended the day firmer by 1.16% and 1.08% respectively. The Gold miners bucked the trend by declining 0.48%, led by AngloGold Ashanti and Harmony which closed the trading session lower by 2.59% and 0.68% respectively. The Iron Ore producers closed strong with Assore and Kumba Iron higher by 5.55% and 2.00% respectively. On the company front, Bidvest announced a trading update for the full year ended 30 June 2017 and advised shareholders that HEPS from continuing operations are expected to be between R10.96 and R11.17, being an increase of between 4% and 6% when compared to the R10.54 reported for the prior comparative period. The increase in HEPS is primarily due to fair value capital gains arising from an increase in the market values of associate companies Adcock Ingram and Comair. The stock closed the trading session higher by 0.96%. AngloGold Ashanti announced their Q2 production figures and production was 1.748Moz at a total cash cost of $796oz for the six months ended 30 June 2017, compared to 1.745Moz at $706oz in the first half of last year. Advtech released their results for the half year ended 30 June 2017 and the salient features were a 22% rise in revenue, a 28% rise in trading operating profit, whereas normalised EPS were up 23%. The company declared a gross dividend of 15c, and the stock closed unchanged for the day. African Rainbow Minerals released a trading statement for the full year ended 30 June 2017 advising that the company’s HEPS will be at least 20% higher than those of the previous corresponding period. The increase came as a result of higher average US Dollar commodity prices realized for all of the commodities which ARM produces, which was partly offset by a stronger R$ exchange rate. The company closed 2.41% higher. On the economic front, the month-on-month all inventories activity in Japan increased 0.4% compared to a 0.8% decline in the previous month and below consensus of a 0.5% increase. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index in the United States fell to -0.01 in July 2017 from an upwardly revised 0.16 in June, but way below and missing market expectations of 0.13. Total value traded for the day was recorded at R16.31bn.