The JSE edged into the black by noon on Tuesday, helped by resource counters which gained momentum with the rand weakening slightly from its earlier levels.

At 12.03pm the JSE all share index had collected 0.64 percent, with resources adding 1.29 percent. Platinum producers edged up 0.50 percent, while gold producers weakened 0.20 percent.

Banks weakened 0.84 percent and financials were flat, down 0.14 percent, while industrials edged up 0.31 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.42 to the dollar, from 7.33 when the JSE closed on Monday. Gold was quoted at $1135.10 a troy ounce from $1132.85/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1444/oz, from $1448.50/oz at its previous close.

"Resources are picking the market up on the back of firm commodity prices. We saw platinum spike to $1,444 this morning. Also the weakness in the rand from where it was earlier this morning," the trader said.

"Looking forward to the rest of the day, it will be determined by what is happening with international markets.

"We are approaching technical resistance levels around 27 500-28 000. Traders will also be looking at that," he said.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that the FTSE 100 stayed down but off earlier lows, showing no reaction to the release of decent UK CPI data. Consumer prices rose 1.5 percent year-on-year and 0.2 percent on a monthly basis. "CPI has come in slightly above expectations, but the BOE has already warned the market that we will see a temporary blip in inflation, possibly even above the upper limit in the near future," said a trader. As a result, "everyone is very relaxed about it and unconcerned that QE is proving problematic," he added. Still to come on the economic calendar, US PPI and industrial production at 1.30pm GMT and 2.15pm GMT, respectively.

The FTSE 100 was last down 0.39 percent.

US stocks are called to open slightly lower as traders take profits on the back of a slightly higher dollar, said David Morrison at GFT. He called DJIA down 20 points and the S&P 500 down 2 points. He noted however "the downward trend for the dollar remains in place and this will continue to support equities, in the US and elsewhere." He added that Bernanke's attempt to 'talk up the greenback' on Monday "fooled no one, as actions speak louder than words."

On the economic calendar, investors will turn to US PPI at 1.30pm GMT and industrial production at 2.15pm GMT.