The JSE ended flat on Friday, up 36 points, having edged into the red in late afternoon trade pressured by US unemployment data, which rose more than expected.

At 5pm the JSE all share index was flat, up 0.14 percent, with resources collecting 0.85 percent, gold miners firming 2.80 percent and platinum producers edging up 0.18 percent.

Banks were down 2.32 percent and financials lost 1.33 percent, but industrials inched 0.10 percent higher.

The rand was bid at 7.50 to the dollar from 7.60 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at US$1,096.60 a troy ounce from $1090.15 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1352/oz, from $1351.50/oz at its previous close.

"It's the jobless data in the US. The last time the number was above 10 percent was in 1983, this figure shook the market," a trader said.

"The banks led the decline. Sentiment around banks this week has been negative. They had a good run and were at overbought levels.

"The rand has kept its gains relatively well and that puts pressure on the resource sector," he said.

"The gold sector is hanging on to its gains. That is on risk aversion after the data, and people are seeking a safe haven," he added.

Dow Jones Newswire reported that US stocks swung from a deep decline to slightly higher at the open on Friday after a report showed US unemployment hit its highest level in more than 26 years in October.

Shortly after the opening bell, the DJIA traded up 5 points at 10,018. Financials and consumer companies were the hardest hit with JPMorgan, American Express and Walt Disney pacing the move lower. Both sectors had been at the forefront of a 200-point rally in the Dow on Thursday.

Helping to keep the Dow in the green, General Electric rose 4.7 percent after Oppenheimer boosted its rating on GE to outperform from perform, saying the conglomerate's financial portfolio is stabilising.

Broadly, the market was weighed down by the Labour Department report, which said US unemployment rose more than expected in October and employers cut more jobs than forecast, a sign the labour market continues to struggle as the economy emerges from its deep recession. The unemployment rate, calculated using a survey of households as opposed to companies, rose by 0.4 percentage point to 10.2 percent. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast an increase to 9.9 percent.

Non-farm payrolls fell by 190 000 last month, with the largest job losses in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade. Economists had expected a 175 000 decrease.

On Wall Street, traders noted some surprise that the morning's declines weren't more severe, especially given the big jump on Thursday.

Mark Turner, co-head of sales trading for Instinet, noted stocks were getting a lift from transports, which were helped by a decline in oil prices.

"And though the headline number on jobs was pretty bad, some of the revision numbers were actually a little better," said Turner. "That's why there wasn't a huge move to the downside."

At the time the JSE closed, the DJIA was last flat, up 0.03 percent.

On the JSE, Anglo American plc added 3.89 rand, or 1.32 percent, to 298 rand, while BHP Billiton eased seven cents to 212.82 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol collected 50 cents to 292 rand.

Kumba Iron Ore gained five rand, or 2.22 percent, to 230 rand.

AngloGold Ashanti advanced 10.70 rand, or 3.55 percent, to 312.01 rand, Gold Fields was 1.92 rand, or 1.84 percent, stronger at 106.02 rand and Harmony rose 2.20 rand, or 2.75 percent, to 82.19 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum firmed 2.67 rand to 675 rand, but Lonmin weakened 26 cents to 194.74 rand.

In diversified miners, African Rainbow moved 2.13 rand, or 1.39 percent, higher to 155 rand and Exxaro put on 1.25 rand, or 1.47 percent, to 86.40 rand.

Elsewhere on the JSE, SABMiller was barely changed, down three cents, to 205.48 rand, Bidvest declined 1.85 rand, or 1.55 percent, to 117.70 rand, Imperial gave up 1.44 rand, or 1.82 percent, to 77.57 rand and British American Tobacco shed 2.90 rand, or 1.18 percent, to 243.67 rand.

Banker Standard Bank lost 2.64 rand, or 2.77 percent, to 92.61 rand, Nedbank was down 1.47 rand, or 1.28 percent, to 113 rand and FirstRand was off 55 cents, or 3.25 percent, to 16.35 rand.

Financial services group Old Mutual weakened 35 cents, or 2.57 percent, to 13.26 rand.

Sugar group Tongaat Hulett lost 1.49 rand, or 1.49 percent, to 98.40 rand.

Media group Caxton collected 58 cents, or 4.03 percent, to 14.98 rand and Naspers garnered 7.75 rand, or 2.78 percent, to 286.75 rand.

Among retailers, Pick n Pay was down 40 cents, or 1.03 percent, to 38.50 rand, Spar weakened 81 cents, or 1.25 percent, to 63.79 rand, Lewis fell 1.14 rand, or 2.24 percent, to 49.75 rand and Mr Price declined 45 cents, or 1.39 percent, to 32 rand.

Cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement was 66 cents, or 2.06 percent, weaker at 31.34 rand.

Telecommunications group MTN Group inched up 15 cents to 116 rand, but Telkom declined one rand, or 2.35 percent, to 41.50 rand and Vodacom eased 27 cents to 52.38 rand.

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