A stronger opening from the Dow coupled with a slightly weaker rand led the JSE into the black on Monday.

At 5pm the JSE all share index had collected 0.40 percent, with resources up 1.03 percent and platinum producers adding 1.16 percent. Gold miners moved 0.56 percent higher.

Banks lost 1.71 percent and financials weakened 0.74 percent, but industrials edged up 0.29 percent.

At 4.45pm the rand was bid at 7.53 to the dollar from 7.47 at the JSE close on Friday. Gold was quoted at $1054.42 a troy ounce from $1054.95/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1360.50/oz, from $1356/oz at its previous close.

"A firmer opening on the Dow coupled with a weaker rand boosted local stocks today," a local trader said.

"We will continue to track US markets, with an eye on company earnings," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that US stocks were higher early on Monday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average back above the psychologically important 10 000 level as higher oil prices lifted the energy sector and the tech sector was riding high after Marvell Technology raised its third- quarter revenue guidance.

The news out of Marvell helped investors become more positive again about the third-quarter earnings season, which has generally seen earnings come in above Street expectations, with some companies even beating revenue forecasts. On Friday, stocks fell on uncertainty about the economy, which prompted investors to act disenchanted with the earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was recently up 75 points at 10 047. It was led by Microsoft, up 1.3 percent, which gained with a number of the Dow's other tech components, including Intel and International Business Machines, following the Marvell news. American Express also helped lift the Dow, as did energy components Chevron and Exxon Mobil. All three climbed more than one percent each.

Back in Johannesburg, Anglo American plc was up 2.60 rand to 294.10 rand and BHP Billiton collected 1.85 percent to 227.99 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol added 70 cents to 310.50 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti gained 94 cents to 325.94 rand, Harmony profited 1.49 percent to 84.24 rand and Gold Fields edged up 55 cents to 107.25 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum shed four rand to 669 rand, but Impala Platinum rose 2.14 percent to 178.75 rand and Lonmin was up 2.21 percent to 215.52 rand.

In diversified miners, Exxaro slipped 2.18 percent to 91.51 rand.

Highveld Steel dropped 2.21 percent to 66.50 rand and metals group ArcelorMittal was off one rand to 112 rand.

Kumba Iron Ore fell 1.70 percent to 242.80 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, brewer SABMiller collected 1.58 rand to 203.80 rand and British American Tobacco firmed 4.55 rand to 247.50 rand.

Pretoria Portland Cement weakened 2.84 percent to 33.19 rand.

Electricals group Reunert pocketed 2.87 percent to 57 rand.

Banking group Standard Bank was down 1.40 percent to 98.45 rand, Nedbank gave up 2.54 percent to 122.20 rand, and Absa weakened 2.87 percent to 125 rand.

RMB Holdings subsided 2.63 percent to 28.14 rand.

Among retailers, JD Group moved 2.53 percent to 43.10 rand, along with Lewis down 2.94 percent to 54.74 rand.

Massmart advanced 3.13 percent to 92.57 rand and Pick n Pay was up 1.33 percent to 41 rand.

Construction group Aveng garnered 1.08 percent to 42 rand.

Famous Brands profited 10 percent to 23.10 rand. The fast food restaurant chain reported first half diluted headline earnings a share of 91 cents, a 16.6 percent increase from the 78 cents reported for its first half last year.

Headline earnings per share were 16 percent higher at 93 cents for the six months to end August 2009 from 80 cents for the same six months a year ago.

Revenue increases 14 percent to R811-million from R715-million and operating profit was up 13 percent to R140-million from R124-million.

The company declared an interim dividend of 50 cents, 39 percent up from last year's interim dividend of 36 cents.

Pioneer Food slipped 3.85 percent to 35 rand.

Comair added 20 percent to three rand.

Super Group dropped 50.39 percent to 63 cents. The group is currently undergoing a R1-billion rights issue.

"A circular to shareholders relating to the rights offer in respect of 2 727 580 820 Super Group ordinary shares made to Super Group shareholders in the ratio of 410 new rights offer shares for every 100 ordinary shares held at the close of business on Friday 30 October 2009 being the record date for the rights offer, at a price of 45 cents per share, will be posted to Super Group shareholders on Monday 2 November 2009," it said.

Media Group Nasper N fell 1.40 percent to 282 rand.

Telecommunications group Telkom was down 1.20 percent to 45.28 rand.