The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Africa's largest stock exchange, reported a 10.4% increase in net profit after tax to R918 million for its 2024 financial year. This growth was attributed to a diversification strategy that mitigated the impact of muted equity trading amid geopolitical tensions and sluggish economic growth in the first half of the year. The JSE also announced plans to increase its capital expenditure by up to 46% in 2025 as part of its ongoing strategy to diversify its business. In related news, Curro, South Africa's largest independent school operator, announced a hike in its final dividend and continued share buybacks, reflecting strong operational performance despite limited pupil growth. Additionally, paper and packaging group Caxton reported profit growth despite a revenue decline, while WBHO increased its dividend due to heightened local road activity. Shares of London-based Quilter, which has a secondary listing on the JSE, rose 7% following an increase in its final dividend driven by profit growth and a surge in net inflows.