The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has over the past few weeks shown signs of slowing down after rallying at breakneck speed on Wednesday.

The all share index was off 0.31 percent to 59,331.20 points, while the blue-chip top 40 index was 0.4 percent lower at 52,845.63 points. The industrial index was 0.55 weaker.
 
The South African rand traded stronger at R14.01 to the U.S. dollar at close on Thursday from R14.12 to the dollar on Wednesday. However, the financial index, which is normally supported by a stronger rand, was only 0.39 percent higher.

The local unit could have been buoyed by the Bank of England's hike in its benchmark interest rate for the first time in a decade on Thursday.

The JSE also followed the U.S. market, which is digesting news that the Fed governor Jerome Powell is set to succeed Janet Yellen, whose term will expire in February.

Anglo American retreated 0.34 percent to R274.78, after reaching a level last seen in 2014, on Monday.

Sasol dropped 0.95 percent to R418. as the price of Brent crude eased slightly off the two-year high it reached on Wednesday, and as the rand recovered.

Kumba Iron Ore advanced 4.5 percent to settle at R290,81 despite only steady iron-ore prices.

Sibanye-Stillwater surged 1.84 percent to R19.33, while Lonmin shed 3.46 percent to R19.53.

Luxury goods maker Richemont, the second-best performing share among blue-chip stocks on the JSE this year, eased 1.49 percent to R127.76.

Truworths lost 3.03 percent to R74,7 after announcing earlier in the day that its retail sales had declined 3 percent to R5.5bn during the first 17 weeks of its financial year.

Construction and engineering company Group Five tumbled 3.7 percent to R12.5 and Mondi plc 1.63 percent to R339.40.