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Johannesburg - The JSE opened in the red on Friday as disappointing US jobs data saw bourses worldwide making losses.
Markets are also waiting for more economic data out of the world's biggest economy later in the day.
By 09:16 local time, the JSE all share index was down 0.15%, with gold miners falling 0.91% and resources shedding 0.50%. Financials lost 0.24%, while banks shed 0.23%, and platinum miners down 0.14%.
Industrials were in positive territory, adding 0.23%.
The rand was trading at R6.81 to the dollar, unchanged from the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 375.15 a troy ounce from $1 381.47/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 813/oz from $1 814.50/oz before.
"That's pretty much on the back of that (US jobless claims data) and international markets sort of drifting lower as well. We've had our resources stocks that have had a good week this week and we might see some profit-taking there," a local trader said.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that Asian stock markets were mostly lower on Friday, after Wall Street's losses on Thursday and disappointing US jobless claims data, though solid results from Intel helped some technology-related stocks.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.4%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.1%, South Korea's Kospi Composite was up 0.4%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tacked on 0.3% and China's Shanghai Composite fell 1.0%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up six points in screen trade.
Intel's fourth-quarter results, released after the New York market's close, beat expectations. The chip giant reported yet another record quarter and projected better-than-expected first-quarter revenues and margins. Intel was up 2.1% in after-hours trade.
"Intel's earnings and its capital spending plan were quite strong, but it's difficult for both Japanese and US stocks to rise further following gains from the year-end," said Mizuho Securities equity strategist Tsuyoshi Segawa.
Moreover, traders were cautious before US economic data later on Friday, including inflation, industrial production, consumer confidence and business inventories.
Japanese stocks slipped, after news on Thursday that US initial unemployment claims increased by 35 000 to 445 000 last week, compared with economists' expectations for a decline.
"Profit-taking kicked in amid signs of overheating in the Japanese market" after the Nikkei hit a fresh eight-month high on Thursday, said Kenichi Hirano, operating officer at Tachibana Securities.
But, he added, Intel's better-than-expected earnings were helping to support the market.
Markets are also waiting for more economic data out of the world's biggest economy later in the day.
By 09:16 local time, the JSE all share index was down 0.15%, with gold miners falling 0.91% and resources shedding 0.50%. Financials lost 0.24%, while banks shed 0.23%, and platinum miners down 0.14%.
Industrials were in positive territory, adding 0.23%.
The rand was trading at R6.81 to the dollar, unchanged from the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 375.15 a troy ounce from $1 381.47/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 813/oz from $1 814.50/oz before.
"That's pretty much on the back of that (US jobless claims data) and international markets sort of drifting lower as well. We've had our resources stocks that have had a good week this week and we might see some profit-taking there," a local trader said.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that Asian stock markets were mostly lower on Friday, after Wall Street's losses on Thursday and disappointing US jobless claims data, though solid results from Intel helped some technology-related stocks.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.4%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.1%, South Korea's Kospi Composite was up 0.4%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tacked on 0.3% and China's Shanghai Composite fell 1.0%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up six points in screen trade.
Intel's fourth-quarter results, released after the New York market's close, beat expectations. The chip giant reported yet another record quarter and projected better-than-expected first-quarter revenues and margins. Intel was up 2.1% in after-hours trade.
"Intel's earnings and its capital spending plan were quite strong, but it's difficult for both Japanese and US stocks to rise further following gains from the year-end," said Mizuho Securities equity strategist Tsuyoshi Segawa.
Moreover, traders were cautious before US economic data later on Friday, including inflation, industrial production, consumer confidence and business inventories.
Japanese stocks slipped, after news on Thursday that US initial unemployment claims increased by 35 000 to 445 000 last week, compared with economists' expectations for a decline.
"Profit-taking kicked in amid signs of overheating in the Japanese market" after the Nikkei hit a fresh eight-month high on Thursday, said Kenichi Hirano, operating officer at Tachibana Securities.
But, he added, Intel's better-than-expected earnings were helping to support the market.
