The JSE remained in the red at midday on Thursday, as global concerns about growth issues continue to weigh and as players await key US economic data for direction.
By noon local time the JSE all share index had shed 0.70 percent, with resources down 0.99 percent, gold miners 1.31 percent weaker and platinum miners off 1.4 percent.
Banks were up 0.11 percent, but financials were 0.15 percent lower and industrials had given up 0.67 percent.
The rand was bid at 7.72 to the dollar from 7.64 at the JSE's last close.
Gold was quoted at US$1 241.43 a troy ounce from at US$1 238.20/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at US$1 518/oz from $1 528.50/oz at the JSE's last close.
A local trader said the JSE was basically following the trend of global markets, which are also lower, as concerns about US and China growth and European credit jitters continue to weigh on sentiment.
The Dow had a weak session on Wednesday, ending almost 1 percent weaker, with Asian markets also lower Thursday, where Tokyo shares were off 2 percent.
London stocks are also softer, with the FTSE last 1.23 percent in the red.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that US stock futures declined Thursday, ahead of the release of key US manufacturing data as a similar Chinese gauge proved disappointing.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 25 points. S&P 500 futures fell 3.4 points to 1023.20 and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 7.25 points to 1730.70.
US stocks Wednesday finished a disappointing quarter with a disappointing session, hurt by worries about domestic job growth as well as European credit jitters following a weaker-than-forecast private sector employment report from Automatic Data Processing Inc and a Moody's warning on Spain.
Weekly jobless claims, the June Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index and May pending home sales data are due for release Thursday.
On the JSE, Anglo (AGL) shed 1.79 rand to 267.20 rand, BHP Billiton dropped 1.97 rand to 198.89 rand and Sasol (SOL) declined 2.01 rand to 272.59 rand.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum (AMS) was 13 rand or 1.78 percent lower at 716 rand, Impala Platinum (IMP) shed 1.25 rand to 178.75 rand and Northam Platinum (NHM) eased 1.46 rand or 3.2 percent to 44.04 rand.
Aquarius (AQP) was 3.19 rand or 7.78 percent weaker at 37.80 rand.
Earlier Aquarius said a safety review at its Blue Ridge Mine in Mpumalanga Province would have a negative impact on production in the short term.
Following two fatal accidents at the mine in the past month, the company has undertaken a comprehensive review of the mine plan and safety procedures and practices at Blue Ridge.
Mining operations recommenced on 28 June but it is anticipated that the mine will now produce approximately 80 000 4E PGM ounces in the 2011 financial year, the company said.
A company spokesperson told I-Net Bridge that the original production forecast had been for 100 000 ounces and therefore the loss would amount to some 20 000 ounces.
The local trader noted that although only 20 000 shares had traded today, the company's share is fairly illiquid, especially in this country and that would have contributed to the sharp fall.
Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) lost 3.95 rand or 1.19 percent to 328 rand while Goldfields (GFI) receded 1.58 rand or 1.52 percent to 102.22 rand.
Harmony (HAR) lost 1.18 rand or 1.45 percent to 80.22 rand and Randgold was 10 cents or 1.8 percent softer at 545 cents.
Junior gold producer Simmer & Jack Mines (SIM) shed three cents or 3.13 percent to 93 cents.
Kumba (KIO) was off 7.24 rand or 2.27 percent to 311.80 rand and ArcelorMittal (ACL) eased 1.74 rand or 2.29 percent to 74.15 rand.
Among industrials, BAT (BAT) lost 1.05 rand to 243.05 rand and SABMiller (SAB) declined 1.65 rand to 213.25.
Telecommunications group MTN (MTN) gave up 10 cents to 100.90 rand.
In the banking sector, Nedbank (NED) was up 50 cents to 120.51 rand, but Standard Bank (SBK) was down 31 cents to 102.08 rand, with ABSA (ASA) 46 cents softer at 121.03 rand.
Retailer Pick n Pay Stores (PIK) was up 3 percent or 1.34 rand at 44.74 rand after it announced it is to sell its Australian subsidiary Franklins to Australian company Metcash Trading for around 1.4 billion rand. - I-Net Bridge
