Johannesburg, Jan 31 (I-Net Bridge) - South African near-dated futures ended firmer on Tuesday but off session highs, tracking global investor sentiment.
The local near-dated Alsi contract lifted 0.38% to 30,207.
The rand was trading at R7.80 against the US dollar, from R7.82 at the previous close, while gold was quoted at US$1,737.65 a troy ounce from US$1,729.71/oz before.
The total number of contracts that exchanged hands was 47,827 from 44,766 on Monday.
Meanwhile US stocks rose on Tuesday after members of the European Union agreed to tighten fiscal ties, as stock indexes were poised to wrap up January with historic gains, Dow Jones Newswires reports.
European markets were also broadly higher after leaders of 25 of the 27 European Union governments agreed on a pact to move closer to fiscal union, and signed off on a permanent bailout fund for the eurozone.
Talks between Greece and its private creditors over debt restructuring continued, and officials said an accord was expected in the "coming days".
Separately, euro-area unemployment was at a 13-year high of 10.4% in December, unchanged from November's revised rate and in line with expectations.
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