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Johannesburg - The JSE opened flat on Wednesday, as commodity counters provided some support in subdued trade ahead of the Christmas holidays.
By 09:13 local time the JSE all share index was flat (0.04%), with gold miners (0.02%) and platinum miners (-0.06%) also virtually unchanged, while resources were up 0.26%. Financials lost 0.27% and banks fell 0.49%, but industrials (0.08%) were little changed.
The rand was bid at R6.78 to the dollar, unchanged from the JSE's close on Tuesday. Gold was quoted at $1 389.66 a troy ounce from $1 383.40/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 729.50/oz from $1 716.50/oz before.
A trader said the market is mixed, with financials, banks and industrials falling, while mining shares were offering some support.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that most Asian share markets were modestly higher in subdued trading on Wednesday, with buying in Japan held back by weaker-than-expected exports data, while bank stocks in China were hit by persistent worries about further tightening measures from Beijing.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed down 0.23%, but in Hong Kong, the Hang Send was last 0.05% higher.
Regional markets were largely subdued in holiday-thinned trade, while the eurozone debt crisis continued to dampen sentiment.
European stocks are seen opening largely unchanged after a lacklustre performance in Asian markets and with traders unwilling to take new positions ahead of the Christmas break, said IG Markets.
