Telkom shares gained 5.9% as of 16:14 p.m. in Johannesburg, valuing the company at R24bn.

Palladium and platinum output at the Stillwater mines fell 5.5% to 570 000 ounces last year after a rail collision.

Aspen said that its vaccine production capacity might go idle soon if it doesn't get orders.

A currency board must back all units of domestic currency in circulation with foreign currency.

Russian oil output is set to fall about 20% by the start of next year as a European Union import ban comes into force.

In early trade the rand was at R16.21 against the dollar, little changed from its previous close of R16.22.

Gold was at $1 785.70 an ounce, down 0.4%.

Reported headline earnings per share of 567 cents in the six-months ended June 30, up from 387 cents a year earlier.

Brent for October settlement declined 0.4% to $97.01 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Spot gold declined 0.3% to $1 786.26 an ounce as of 12:26 p.m. in Singapore.

Aspen has not had orders for its Aspenovax vaccine or received orders from Johnson & Johnson beyond August.

The reference point for the BCI has been adjusted to make 2020 the base year, reflecting changing economic and market trends.

'This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea -- its liberation,' Zelenskiy said.

In early trade the rand was at R16.63 against the dollar, down 0.15% from its previous close.

Gold was at $1 788.51 an ounce, down 0.3%.