Markets muted until US jobs data

Johannesburg - The JSE was flat in afternoon trade on Friday in line with global markets as they await US August non farm
payrolls.
   
By 12:00 local time the JSE all share index had risen 0.17%, with resources 0.31% higher. Platinum miners gained 0.51% while gold miners added
0.51%. Banks fell 0.13%, financials were down slightly by 0.02%, and industrials added 0.15%.
   
The rand was bid at R7.20 to the dollar from R7.22 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1 252.71 a troy ounce from $1 251.72/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 557.50/oz from $1,551.50/oz before.
   
"We had a small sell-off when Euro area data came out. The data was mixed. The market will be fairly muted until the US August non farm
payrolls which they have been waiting for, for the whole week come out this afternoon," a local trader commented.
   
Dow Jones Newswires reported earlier that Asian stock markets were modestly higher on Friday as another positive finish on Wall Street lifted
sentiment, with technology plays leading markets in Tokyo and Seoul.
   
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed 0.57% firmer and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was last 0.49% higher.
   
Investors were encouraged by a third-straight session of gains on Wall Street on Thursday, as well an unexpected increase in US pending-home sales.     
   
However, buying was tempered by caution ahead of the US non-farm payrolls report for August due later Friday.
   
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% to $10 320.10, marking its third-straight gain.
   
European stocks also opened slightly higher, but gains are likely to be limited as investors keep to the sidelines ahead of the non farm payrolls. In London, the FTSE 100 index was last up 0.60%.