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JOHANNESBURG — South African stocks followed European markets higher on Thursday and closed in the black for the fourth straight session on very low volumes as the Johannesburg Securities Exchange closed early for the Christmas long weekend.

By 1200 GMT the rand had edged 0.08 percent firmer to 15.1975 per dollar, taking advantage of a pause in the greenback’s rally sparked by signs that the US central bank would raise rates further in 2016.

Government bonds weakened, with the benchmark paper due in 2026 adding 2.5 basis points to 9.49 percent.

The benchmark Top-40 share index advanced 1.07 percent to 46,355.96 points, its highest closing level this month. The broader All-Share index rose 0.95 percent to 51,324.01 points.

Trade was thin, with 64 million shares changing hands, according to preliminary bourse data, well below last year’s daily average of 183 million shares.

The bourse was lifted by Anglo American, which gained 3 percent to 74.14 rand. Anglo, after announcing a major restructuring last week, said on Thursday it would sell its stake in Dartbrook, a coal mine in Australia.

The firm’s platinum unit, Anglo American Platinum, was the best performer among the blue chips, extending its 10 percent gain last Wednesday by another 4 percent rise to close on 199.86 rand. — Reuters