Stocks were weaker on Friday morning after the Dow closed softer overnight. All eyes will be on non-farm payroll figures, out in the US later today.

At 9.20pm the JSE all share had shed 0.92 percent, with resources down 1.72 percent. Gold miners declined 0.68 percent and platinum counters were 1.70 percent weaker.

Banks dropped 0.45 percent, with financials dropping 0.36 percent and industrials also down 0.36 percent.

The rand was bid at 8.09 to the dollar, from 8.06 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $961 a troy ounce from $966.45/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1250/oz, from $1260/oz at its previous close.

A local trader said: "We have opened lower this morning after US markets closed softer overnight. There is a feeling in the US that markets had moved too much too quickly. It was a similar case in the East, where markets rose initially, but then saw some profit taking.

"The rand is a key story, and we see it drifting further today, which will be a support cushion on the downside for weaker metals and commodities. Unemployment figures in the US are also key today," the trader said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports European stock markets are expected to open lower on Friday, with investors ending the week in a cautious manner ahead of the key monthly employment release in the US, an important gauge of the strength of the world's largest economy.

"All eyes will fall on the US as the non-farm payroll figures are released," said Jimmy Yates, a dealer at CMC Markets. "The last couple of days have seen better-than-expected readings from both the ADP payrolls and initial jobless claims in turn boosting confidence that we may see a good number from today."

"However, caution will still be around as the release has the potential to undo all of the hard work of the last few sessions," Yates added.

A survey complied by Dow Jones Newswires, conducted on Friday and Monday, forecasts non-farm payrolls to fall by 275 000 in July, compared with a drop of 467,000 in June, with the unemployment rate climbing to 9.7 percent from 9.5 percent.

Asian stock markets have moved in tight ranges on Friday as traders turned cautious ahead of the key US jobs report.