Stocks ended in the black on Friday supported by impressive mining stocks with the gold price moving back above the $1000 level in what an equities trader said was a session supported by the availability of liquidity.

At 5pm the JSE all share index had collected 0.99 percent, with resources firming 1.82 percent, gold counters adding 2.75 percent and platinum counters gaining 2.72 percent.

Banks were flat, up 0.07 percent, financials and industrials edged up 0.39 percent and 0.38 percent respectively.

The rand was bid at 7.45 to the dollar from 7.57 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1009.09 a troy ounce from US$994.22/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1315.50/oz, from $1281.50/oz at its previous close.

"Markets are still looking quite strong, gold is back above US$1,000 and the rand has once again started to strengthen," the Johannesburg-based trader said.

"Markets are continuing to run on liquidity being available to prop up markets. Mining shares led us up, they have put in some good runs.

"But its not only these mining shares, it's across the board really. There are a few areas where we are seeing a bit of weakness, but it's still looking good. Dow Jones is up at the moment as well and Europe was strong, it's all as a result of appetite for risk. There is a view that we can see an economic recovery coming through. It's the availability of liquidity that is supporting this market," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that an upbeat profit forecast from FedEx lifted transportation stocks on Friday, but other sectors paused following the market's five-day winning streak.

The DJIA, which has risen nearly 350 points over the last five sessions, was recently off by four points, trading at 9623.70. But the Dow Jones Transportation Average posted strong gains, up 1.9 percent to 3970.68, helped by a 5.6 percent gain in FedEx shares. The delivery giant said that its first-quarter earnings are likely to exceed guidance.

Transport stocks have helped lead throughout its recent winning streak, with many investors placing bets that trucking companies, railroads, and shipping companies will be among the first to benefit as economic activity picks up.

Other indexes swung between gains and losses in early action. The technology-oriented Nasdaq Composite Index was recently off 0.1 percent. The S&P 500 was up 0.1 percent, buoyed by a 1 percent gain in its energy sector.

In economic news, the latest reading of the University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment index was stronger than expected. The measure rose to 70.2 this month, up from 65.7 in August. Elsewhere, new data showed US import prices jumped two percent in August as oil prices rose. Import prices are still down about 15 percent relative to a year ago.

Signs of strength abroad put fresh pressure on the dollar, which has fallen to its lowest levels of the year this week amid signs that overseas economies may be pulling out of recession more quickly than the US.

However, shortly before the local market closed, the DJIA turned around and had last edged up 0.02 percent.

Back in Johannesburg, Anglo American plc collected 62 cents to 258.17 rand and BHP Billiton gained 1.84 percent to 213.11 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol added 2.29 percent to 308 rand.

Highveld Steel put on 1.35 percent to 76.01 rand and Kumba Iron Ore gained 5.35 percent to 267.05 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti strengthened 2.74 percent to 327.90 rand, Goldfields was up 2.35 percent to 109 rand and Harmony advanced 3.88 percent to 87.50 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum jumped 3.60 percent to 717 rand, Impala Platinum firmed 2.45 percent to 188 rand and Lonmin was up 1.73 percent to 213.70 rand.

In diversified miners African Rainbow put on 1.43 percent to 160.26 rand and Exxaro strengthened 2.99 percent to 93 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, brewer SABMiller gave up 1.18 percent to 180.50 rand and British American Tobacco declined 1.26 percent to 242.40 rand but Barloworld gained 6.99 percent to 49 rand.

Banking group Nedbank added 1.76 percent to 116.01 rand and FirstRand put on 1.35 percent to 15.76 rand.

Retailer Truworths was up 4.01 percent to 40.50 rand, Massmart rose 3.31 percent to 84 rand, Foschini added 3.31 percent to 62.50 rand and Steinhoff advanced 4.27 percent to 17.10 rand.

Construction group Aveng gained 5.49 percent to 44.20 rand, Murray & Roberts put on 8.48 percent to 62.70 rand and WBHO advanced 3.64 percent to 122.50 rand.

Cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement was up 3.51 percent to 34.80 rand.

Telecommunications group MTN Group declined 1.05 rand to 126.25 rand but Telkom edged up 20 cents to 45 rand.