JSE stocks edged into the red in early trade on Friday moving in line with weaker world markets with a strong dollar weighing on commodities.

At 09:16 the JSE all share index had subsided 0.52 percent, with resources down 0.94 percent, platinum producers weakening 0.78 percent and gold miners falling 1.87 percent.

Banks were off 0.77 percent, financials eased 0.47 percent and industrials were flat, down 0.05 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.44 to the dollar, unchanged from when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1108.05 a troy ounce from $1114 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1359.50 and ounce, from $1347.60 at its previous close.

"We are slightly lower this morning. World markets are down and the East was also weak," a trader said.

"The stronger dollar is putting some pressure on the commodities and us being a resource-based economy, we are relatively negative.

"After a few days of gains we are seeing some profit taking with the strong dollar weighing on the resources," he said.

"It's a Friday, volumes will probably be relatively low and we will probably have a negative day after a good week," he concluded.

Dow Jones Newswire reported that energy stocks, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, led US stocks lower on Thursday as crude oil futures fell, although Wal-Mart rose after its third-quarter earnings came in above the discount retailer's guidance.

Snapping a six-day winning streak and marking only its second drop this month, the DJIA fell 93.79 points, or 0.91 percent, to 10197.47. That represents the measure's biggest one-day drop since October 30. It is still up nearly 5 percent for the month to date.

Weighing on the Dow industrials, Exxon fell 1.01, or 1.4 percent, to 71.90, while Chevron dropped 1.09, or 1.4 percent, to 77.42. The energy stocks were pressured by a 3 percent drop in oil futures on the report of a bigger-than-expected rise in crude stockpiles. Financial components JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America also helped pull the DJIA lower. JPMorgan fell 1.02, or 2.3 percent, to 43.30, while Bank of America dropped 37 cents, or 2.3 percent, to 16.06.

Wal-Mart was one of the few blue-chip gainers, climbing 27 cents, or 0.5 percent, to 53.24, thanks to its better-than-forecast third-quarter earnings. But the big-box retailing giant projected flat fourth-quarter US same-store sales, disappointing investors who are nervous about the holiday season at a time when consumers are still held back by high unemployment and a weak housing market.

"Now that you're toward the year end, and you have a big data point coming up which is Christmas, people are starting to get nervous," said Michael Alpert, a portfolio manager with Seligman Investments. "We remain bearish on the consumer. There's still a big headwind with 10 percent unemployment."

Asian stock markets are mixed on Friday, with sentiment suffering from weakness in Wall Street stocks on Thursday. Resources shares are lower on weakness in prices of gold, base metals and oil.

The Nikkei ended down 0.3 percent and the Hang Seng was last up 0.1 percent.

European bourses are likely to follow Wall Street lower, as investors switch to fixed income ahead of the weekend.

On the JSE, Anglo American plc dropped 2.61 rand to 306.50 rand and BHP Billiton declined 2.28 rand, or 1.02 percent, to 221.21 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol gave up 1.05 rand to 290.50 rand.

AngloGold Ashanti lost 4.90 rand, or 1.49 percent, to 323.05 rand, Gold Fields weakened 2.54 rand, or 2.34 percent, to 105.96 rand and Harmony declined 1.87 rand, or 2.37 percent, to 77.10 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum shed 7.49 rand, or 1.10 percent, to 673.51 rand, Impala Platinum eased 18 cents to 171.32 rand and Lonmin was off 3.32 rand, or 1.65 percent, to 198 rand.

In diversified miners African Rainbow weakened 1.75 rand, or 1.07 percent, to 161.75 rand and Exxaro lost 1.60 rand, or 1.74 percent, to 90.20 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, brewer SABMiller was 1.19 rand weaker at 204.46 rand and Tiger Brands shed 1.80 rand, or 1.12 percent, to 158.60 rand.

Banker Standard Bank was down 74 cents to 96.36 rand and Absa declined 1.49 rand, or 1.17 percent, to 126.01 rand.

Sanlam weakened 24 cents, or 1.08 percent, to 21.90 rand.

Sugar group Illovo was down 34 cents, or 1.03 percent, to 32.65 rand.

Retailer Truworths gave up 72 cents, or 1.64 percent, to 43.05 rand and Clicks shed 85 cents, or 3.35 percent, to 24.55 rand.

Construction group Murray & Roberts lost one rand, or 1.78 percent, to 55.25 rand.

Among telecommunications groups, Telkom eased four cents to 42.21 rand and Vodacom weakened 74 cents, or 1.32 percent, to 55.26 rand.