* Stocks lifted led by resources shares
* Rand falls ahead of Ramaphosa speech
(Updates figures, adds detail, quotes)
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 12 (Reuters) - South African shares firmed on Friday, supported by resources stocks lifted by better than expected Chinese trade data, while the rand slipped in cautious trading ahead of a weekend speech by the leader of the ruling African National Congress party.
The rand was down 0.18 percent at 12.4150 to the dollar by 1552 GMT, on course for a weekly decline of about 1 percent.
The benchmark Top-40 index , meanwhile, rose 0.9 percent to 53,296 points, while the All-Share index was up 0.8 percent at 60,083.
Resource shares benefited from the Chinese trade data, with BHP Billiton rising 2.9 percent to 279.59 rand and Anglo American up 1.5 percent at 298.08 rand.
Despite a slowdown in China's December trade data the overall picture for 2017 was one of strong global appetite for Chinese products, with exports beating analyst forecasts, up10.9 percent from a year earlier. The slight dip in the rand reflected investor caution ahead of an important speech on Saturday by ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa.
Gerrit van Rooyen, of NKC African Economics, said investors would scrutinise Ramaphosa's speech for clues on his policy preferences, as well as signals that President Jacob Zuma could be forced to step down soon.
Speculation about when Zuma will leave office has driven rand volatility in recent weeks. Zuma's second presidential term ends in 2019, but Ramaphosa could push for an earlier resignation.
Ramaphosa will be speaking in East London on Saturday to mark 106 years since the ANC was founded.
In fixed income, bonds strengthened, with the yield on South Africa's benchmark government bond due in 2026 down 2.5 basis points at 8.570 percent
(Reporting by Alexander Winning and Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by David Goodman)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.