THE JSE was slightly higher by noon today lifted by firm platinum counters, with a trader saying the bourse was eyeing the US for possible direction.
In noon trade, the JSE all share index had collected 0.20%, with resources inching 0.10% higher, gold miners collecting 0.22% and platinum producers gaining 1.38%.
Banks were flat, up 0.08% and financials and industrials edged up 0.29 and 0.17% respectively.
The rand was bid at R7.26/$, from R7.28/$ when the JSE closed today. Gold was quoted at $1,218.85 a troy ounce from $1,214.22/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1,500/oz, from $1,496.50/oz the bourse's previous close.
"We are slightly firmer, lifted by the platinum shares," the trader said.
"There is not much movement in the gold sector despite the gold price being at these levels. Dow futures are up at the moment. There is economic data out there this afternoon. Jobless claims are out this afternoon. The market is eyeing those figures and will possibly get some direction from there," he said.
Dow Jones newswires reported that the FTSE 100 was firm on a strong performance in Asia after the Nikkei 225 surged to a five-week closing high and as basic resource stocks rally after gold hit a new all-time high.
Traders now examine UK PMI services data, which shows the service sector expands for the seventh straight month in November but at a slower pace than in October. However, it is a relief the PMI services index did not decline more than expected, following the recent weak PMI manufacturing data, said an economist. "We seem to be levelling off for PMI services, after posting a strong result last month," added the economist.
The FTSE 100 was last up 0.55%.
US stocks are called to open higher as traders take heart from news that Bank Of America will pay $45B worth of TARP funds back to the US government, said David Morrison at GFT. Morrison called DJIA up 50 points and S&P 500 up six points. Nikkei 225 ending up 3.8% and a generally weaker dollar also bode well for the US market today, said Morrison. Weekly jobless claims later today should help traders position themselves for tomorrow's nonfarm payrolls, although there is concern payrolls could disappoint after Wednesday's poor ADP survey, Morrison added. ISM non-manufacturing data are due later today.
Among equity movers on the JSE, Anglo American plc fell R3.64, or 1.10%, to R328, but BHP Billiton collected 70 cents to R236.70.
Petrochemicals group Sasol was up R1.90 to R298.40.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti eased 40 cents to R344.60 but Gold Fields was up 89 cents to R115.39 and Harmony edged up 23 cents to R86.53.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum gained R6.90 to R762 and Impala Platinum put on R3.23, or 1.78%, to R184.23.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller collected 55 cents to R218.75 but Barloworld lost R1.15, or 2.42%, to R46.45.
Banking group Standard Bank edged up 16 cents to R97.40 and Absa put on R1.27 to R129.77, but Nedbank declined 92 cents to R116.88.
Financial services group Old Mutual edged up 19 cents, or 1.37%, to R14.04.
Sugar group Illovo was up 44 cents, or 1.47%, to R30.44 and Tongaat Hulett gained R1.16, or 1.25%, to R93.76.
Media group Naspers rose R4.53, or 1.62%, to R284.53 while Avusa weakened 25 cents, or 1.45%, to R17.
Retailer Spar was up R1, or 1.55%, to R65.50 but Massmart declined R1.13, or 1.32%, to R84.23 and Lewis weakened 68 cents, or 1.33%, to R50.31.
Construction group Aveng was off 45 cents, or 1.20%, to R37.05 and Murray & Roberts weakened 62 cents, or 1.30%, to R47.18, but WBHO added R1.10, or 1.06%, to R105.
Telecommunications group MTN Group eased 16 cents to R116.74 but Vodacom edged up 21 cents to R56.91.
