The JSE tracked international markets lower by midday on Thursday amid profit taking and a weaker dollar.

At 12.09pm the JSE all share index had shed 0.89 percent, with resources wavering 1.59 percent, gold miners slipping 2.92 percent and platinum producers down 1.72 percent.

Banks were flat, up 0.02 percent, as were financials, up 0.02 percent, but industrials weakened 0.68 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.63 to the dollar from 7.67 when the JSE closed on Wednesday. Gold was quoted at $1090.45 a troy ounce from $1090.47 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1359/oz, from $1364/oz at its previous close.

A local trader said: "There doesn't appear to be any one reason why markets are in the red at the moment. We are seeing some profit taking after a good run over the past few days.

"Rand hedge companies are performing better, including Old Mutual and Sasol, following an inventories sell yesterday.

"Otherwise we are tracking international markets which are all generally lower, along with a weaker dollar," he said.

Dow Jones Newswire reports European stock markets were modestly lower on Thursday, as a final hour sell off on Wall Street on Wednesday dampened investors' spirits and triggered a bout of profit taking ahead of key interest rate announcements from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

"Ultimately, traders got what they expected from the US Federal Reserve Wednesday, and then decided they didn't like it. The weight of speculation today comes down on the BOE extending quantitative easing, so it's mostly a question of by how much," said David Morrison, strategist at GFT.

Traders said the indices may tread water until the announcements from the BOE and ECB are released, due at 12pm GMT and 12.45 GMT respectively.

"Traders will also be keeping an eye on (sterling) as those comments are published. Later, we have jobless claims in the US and third-quarter non- farm productivity, (both due 1.30pm GMT), so the markets will probably continue their volatile pattern," said Arifa Sheikh-Usmani, equity trader at Spreadex LTD.

In Asian trade on Thursday, stock markets were mostly lower, weighed down by Wall Street closing off its highs and as the Fed's policy statement provided few fresh cues.