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Johannesburg - The JSE opened virtually flat on Thursday as the local market retained firmer undertone.
By 09:25 local time, the JSE all share index was up slightly by 0.13%, with resources gaining 0.18% and platinum miners rising 0.16%. But gold counters were unchanged. Banks fell 0.20%, but financials were flat. Industrials added 0.17%.
The rand was bid at R6.85 to the dollar, from R6.88 at the JSE's close on Wednesday. Gold was quoted at $1 427.78 a troy ounce from $1 438.09/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 837.50/oz from $1 853/oz before.
A trader said trade volumes were light following volatile sessions in the past few days. International stocks were better, the trader added.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that Asian stock markets were higher on Thursday as many investors took the opportunity to buy into beaten-down stocks, but caution pervaded trade amid persistent concerns over the Middle East turmoil and surge in oil prices.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was up 0.7%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was 0.1% higher, South Korea's Kospi Composite rose 1.8%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tacked on 0.9% and China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.6%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 27 points in screen trade.
Regional sentiment was underpinned by Wednesday's modest rise on Wall Street, the US Federal Reserve's Biege Book report painting a picture of an improving US economy and accelerating European manufacturing activity.
European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday, after strong sessions in the US and Asia, amid expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will hint at measures to tackle inflation at its monthly press conference later in the session.
By 09:25 local time, the JSE all share index was up slightly by 0.13%, with resources gaining 0.18% and platinum miners rising 0.16%. But gold counters were unchanged. Banks fell 0.20%, but financials were flat. Industrials added 0.17%.
The rand was bid at R6.85 to the dollar, from R6.88 at the JSE's close on Wednesday. Gold was quoted at $1 427.78 a troy ounce from $1 438.09/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 837.50/oz from $1 853/oz before.
A trader said trade volumes were light following volatile sessions in the past few days. International stocks were better, the trader added.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that Asian stock markets were higher on Thursday as many investors took the opportunity to buy into beaten-down stocks, but caution pervaded trade amid persistent concerns over the Middle East turmoil and surge in oil prices.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was up 0.7%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was 0.1% higher, South Korea's Kospi Composite rose 1.8%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tacked on 0.9% and China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.6%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 27 points in screen trade.
Regional sentiment was underpinned by Wednesday's modest rise on Wall Street, the US Federal Reserve's Biege Book report painting a picture of an improving US economy and accelerating European manufacturing activity.
European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday, after strong sessions in the US and Asia, amid expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will hint at measures to tackle inflation at its monthly press conference later in the session.
