Share prices on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) firmed significantly on Thursday following positive sentiment on the global markets.

U.S. Federal Reserve chairperson Janet Yellen signaled to raise interest rates in the congressional testimony on Wednesday.

The all share index gained 0.75 percent, while the blue-chip top 40 added 0.82 percent. Financial stocks were best performers on the JSE, rising by 1.05 percent.

On the JSE, Mr Price was up 2.43 percent to R162.07 and TFG climbed 2.19 percent to R141.

Banking group FirstRand was up 1.72 percent to R49.64 while insurance group MMI gained 1.98 percent to R20.65.

Industrial heavyweight Naspers gained 2.21 percent to R2,686.06.

Bucking the trend, gold miners were down 1.95 percent, and industrials climbed 0.92 percent. Resources declined 0.06 percent because of the strength of the local unit.

Drug manufacturer Aspen declined 2.25 percent to R283, while paper and pulp group Sappi tumbled 1.55 percent to R88.85.

The rand strengthened 0.06 percent and closed at 13.25 against the U.S. dollar.