JOHANNESBURG, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) closed marginally higher on Thursday as a stronger South Africa's rand supported bonds and reduced inflationary pressures.

On Thursday afternoon, as the rand hovered around R12 to the dollar, after having firmed to R11.93 earlier.

At the close of the session, the local unit was trading at R12.01 to the U.S. dollar from R11.94.

Banks and retailers benefited from a stronger South Africa rand and rand hedges softened.

Steinhoff advanced more than 10 percent from record lows after it raised R3.75bn by selling 6 percent of its JSE-listed subsidiary Steinhoff Africa Retail (Star).

Local media reported that Resilient lost on some profit-taking following a 30 percent recovery rally. Resilient was "exonerated" of any wrongdoing. It emerged on Thursday that investors are now awaiting two other reviews into the company by the JSE and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

The all share closed 0.55 percent up at 56,480.98 and the top 40 also added 0.66 percent. Banks recouped 1.96 percent, financials 0.5 percent and food and drug retailers lost 0.86 percent. The gold index lost 2.96 percent and platinums 2.73 percent.

British American Tobacco lost 1.02 percent to R714.8. Enditem