South African stocks traded sideways in the midday session on Friday, with an eye on month end.

At 12.00am the JSE all share index had gained 0.02 percent, with resources down 0.53 percent. Platinum producers edged 0.43 percent lower and gold counters slipped 0.13 percent lower.

Banks added 0.10 percent, financials were flat, up 0.03 percent, and industrials were 0.54 percent higher.

The rand was bid at 7.67 to the dollar from 7.76 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1045.27 a troy ounce from $1040.45 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1327.50 an ounce, from $1334 at its previous close.

A local trader said: "There is very little action at present, stocks are trading sideways with very little direction. Locally stocks are probably biased towards the positive at month end."

Dow Jones Newswire reported that US stocks are called to open lower Friday, in a modest pullback after the strong rally led by financial stocks Thursday, said David Morrison at GFT. He called the DJIA down 30 points at 9932 and the S&P 500 down 3 at 1063.

While the strong GDP number gave traders a good excuse to buy stocks after four consecutive weak sessions, there is still concern that without the stimulus programs, the US would still be in recession," added Morrison.

Personal income and employment cost index are at 12:30 GMT. Chicago PMI and University of Michigan consumer sentiment are at 13:45 GMT and 13:55 GMT respectively.

On the JSE, Anglo American plc dropped 73 cents to 294.75 rand and BHP Billiton shed 3.49 rand, or 1.58 percent, to 217.42 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol gained 1.27 rand to 301.87 rand.

Paper group Sappi rose 48 cents, or 1.64 percent, to 29.83 rand and Mondi added 37 cents to 44.17 rand.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti shed 1.27 rand to 299.72 rand and Harmony declined 75 cents to 80.05 rand. South Africa's third-largest gold producer on Friday reported a 5.6 percent quarter-on-quarter increase in production to 373,431 ounces in the September quarter from 353,752 ounces in the June quarter.

The company reported a net loss of 29 million rand for the three months to end September 2009, compared with a 236 million rand profit in the June quarter.

Higher gold production helped to overcome the negative impact of a 3 percent drop in the average rand gold price received to 239,438 rand per kilogram.

Total revenue was 3 percent higher at 2.7 billion rand.

After accounting for an 11 percent increase in cash operating costs to 2.2 billion rand ?the main drivers of which were electricity and labour ? cash operating profit was 26 percent down on the previous quarter at 552 million rand.

Platinum miner Impala Platinum fell 1.10 rand to 173.90 rand and Lonmin eased 1.30 rand to 199.99 rand.

In diversified miners, African Rainbow added two rand, or 1.32 percent, to 154 rand and Exxaro pocketed 1.31 rand, or 1.48 percent, to 89.60 rand.

Kumba Iron Ore advanced 6.99 rand, or 2.96 percent, to 242.99 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, Famous Brands was 50 cents firmer, or 2.08 percent, to 24.50 rand and Tiger Brands lost 1.40 rand to 156 rand.

Electronics group Reunert picked up 75 cents, or 1.33 percent, to 57.25 rand.

Banker Nedbank wavered 1.30 rand, or 1.07 percent, to 120.20 rand.

Financial services group Old Mutual declined 21 cents, or 1.50 percent, to 13.79 rand.

Santam gained one rand, or 1.01 percent, to 100.50 rand.

Retailer Lewis fell 1.32 rand, or 2.37 percent, to 54.28 rand, but Woolies added 24 cents, or 1.37 percent, to 17.74 rand.

Massmart gained 1.70 rand, or 1.93 percent, to 90 rand and Mr Price was up 1.15 rand, or 3.30 percent, to 36.05 rand. Pick n Pay (PIK) rose 96 cents, or 2.38 percent, to 41.23 rand.

Construction group Aveng profited 54 cents, or 1.34 percent, to 40.78 rand.

Media group Naspers N increased by three rand, or 1.06 percent, to 285 rand.

Telecommunications group MTN Group picked up 1.14 rand to 117.64 rand.