The JSE slipped into the red before close on Tuesday as profit taking curbed the bourse as it shrugged off a firm opening on Wall Street following better-than-expected US consumer data.

The JSE's all share index shed 0.35 percent and closed at 25 186.100 points.

The platinum and gold mining indices gained 0.57 percent and 1.14 percent respectively however resources slipped 0.27 percent.

Banks rose 0.52 percent, financials closed unmoved (+0.05 percent) while industrials eased 0.65 percent.

Among platinum miners, Angloplat rose one rand to 681 rand, Impala Platinum climbed 1.90 rand to 206 rand, however Lonmin eased 1.64 rand to 194 rand while Aquarius dropped 2.74 percent to 35.50 rand.

Gold counter, AngloGold Ashanti jumped 2.54 percent to 299.41 rand.

Resources heavyweight, Anglo American plc eased 99 cents to 262.20 rand while rival BHP Billiton pulled back 1.97 percent to 206.99 rand. Synthetics giant, Sasol collected 1.81 percent to 304.99 rand.

Among diversified miners, African Rainbow lifted 1.51 rand to 153.50 rand however Exxaro tumbled 4.69 percent to 91.50 rand.

Steel maker, ArcelorMittal slumped 3.48 percent to 120.89 rand while Kumba Iron Ore retreated 1.15 percent to 257 rand.

Among industrials, Imperial collected 2.33 percent to 76.75 rand, Tiger Brands climbed 1.50 rand to 156 rand however brewer SABMiller lost 94 cents to 180.06 rand, British American Tobacco pulled back 1.17 percent to 240.15 rand, AECI lost 2.22 percent to 55.10 rand while Barloworld eased 1.82 percent to 48.60 rand.

Food retailer, Shoprite earlier reported that its diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the 12 months ended June 2009 were at 390.8 cents, up 30.9 percent from the previous years 298.6 cents. The board declared a final dividend of 130.0 cents per ordinary share to bring the total distribution for the year to 200.0 cents per ordinary share (2008: 155 cents), an increase of 29 percent. The group's share price lost 1.81 percent to 57.55 rand however Massmart collected 1.72 percent to 79.85 rand.

Poultry, stock feed and beef holding company Country Bird Holdings also reported an increase in HEPS by 543 percent to 57.05 cents for the year ended 30 June from 8.87 cents the previous year. The group said a recovery in margins and volumes lifted its operating profit to R186.6-million for the period, a 354 percent improvement on the R41.1-million reported for the previous financial year. The group's share price closed flat at 3.40 rand.

Cellular giant, MTN Group lost 94 cents to 127.01 rand however Vodacom added 45 cents to 58 rand.

Banking giant, Standard Bank climbed 75 cents to 98.25 rand, Absa advanced 1.63 percent to 127.30 rand however Nedbank eased 1.34 percent to 113.85 rand.