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Johannesburg - The JSE remained weaker at noon on Friday, as investors waited anxiously for more US economic data.
The strong rand, together with worries over the US economy and a warning from Moody's Investors Service on the US government's debt rating, had fuelled investor nervousness, a stock broker said.
By 12:01 local time, the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index had fallen 0.66%, with platinum miners slipping 1.17%, gold miners shedding 0.70% and resources dropping 1.23%. Industrials lost 0.26%, financials were off 0.48% and banks eased 0.52%.
The rand was last bid at 6.71 to the dollar from 6.75 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at US$1 529.89 a troy ounce from US$1 526.68/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 810.20/oz, from $1 812.70/oz previously.
The stock broker said investors were waiting on the sidelines for the latest US nonfarm payrolls data later today. Given the recent poor economic news from the world's largest economy, investors expected downbeat jobs figures, he said.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that European stocks were mildly higher on Friday, treading water ahead of the key US nonfarm payrolls data, which are widely expected to show a softening in May.
"A raft of weak US macroeconomic data has sharply lowered the bar for payroll growth in May," said Societe Generale.
The nonfarm payrolls data are of great significance, given disappointing US fundamentals of late and questions as to whether the US Federal Reserve's second quantitative easing programme (QE2) has done enough to help the recovery of the world's largest economy.
At the same time, investors were eager for an update from the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund over the Greek debt situation. Talks are expected to conclude later on Friday.
Among the main European bourses, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 5 862.17, Frankfurt's DAX gained 0.6% to 7 117.97 and Paris's CAC-40 was 0.4% higher at 3 905.17.
Earlier, Asian stock markets had closed mostly lower on caution ahead of the nonfarm payrolls data, with LG Electronics losing ground in Seoul on concerns about its earnings outlook, while new listings in Hong Kong attracted strong demand.
The strong rand, together with worries over the US economy and a warning from Moody's Investors Service on the US government's debt rating, had fuelled investor nervousness, a stock broker said.
By 12:01 local time, the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index had fallen 0.66%, with platinum miners slipping 1.17%, gold miners shedding 0.70% and resources dropping 1.23%. Industrials lost 0.26%, financials were off 0.48% and banks eased 0.52%.
The rand was last bid at 6.71 to the dollar from 6.75 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at US$1 529.89 a troy ounce from US$1 526.68/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 810.20/oz, from $1 812.70/oz previously.
The stock broker said investors were waiting on the sidelines for the latest US nonfarm payrolls data later today. Given the recent poor economic news from the world's largest economy, investors expected downbeat jobs figures, he said.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that European stocks were mildly higher on Friday, treading water ahead of the key US nonfarm payrolls data, which are widely expected to show a softening in May.
"A raft of weak US macroeconomic data has sharply lowered the bar for payroll growth in May," said Societe Generale.
The nonfarm payrolls data are of great significance, given disappointing US fundamentals of late and questions as to whether the US Federal Reserve's second quantitative easing programme (QE2) has done enough to help the recovery of the world's largest economy.
At the same time, investors were eager for an update from the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund over the Greek debt situation. Talks are expected to conclude later on Friday.
Among the main European bourses, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 5 862.17, Frankfurt's DAX gained 0.6% to 7 117.97 and Paris's CAC-40 was 0.4% higher at 3 905.17.
Earlier, Asian stock markets had closed mostly lower on caution ahead of the nonfarm payrolls data, with LG Electronics losing ground in Seoul on concerns about its earnings outlook, while new listings in Hong Kong attracted strong demand.
