A firming of resource counters saw the JSE edge higher into the black by noon on Wednesday in what a local trader said was an inflow of money to emerging markets.

At 12.04pm the JSE all share index had collected 0.53 percent, with resources up 0.97 percent. Platinum miners collected 0.57 percent and gold producers edged up 0.25 percent.

Banks were flat, up 0.01 percent, financials eased 0.11 percent and industrials were up 0.34 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.43 to the dollar, from 7.45 when the JSE closed on Tuesday. Gold was quoted at $1146.32 a troy ounce from $1132.75 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1463/oz, from $1454/oz at its previous close.

"We have moved slightly higher. There is a lot of risk buying. People are buying into riskier assets, a lot of money is flowing out of the dollar into emerging markets," the trader said.

"Resources are strong and the guys are saying that this could carry on until the first quarter of next year.

"The rand - it seems like the market is ignoring the rand, because if it wasn't then financials would be flying, but they are not. For the rest of the day we might see the market go up a bit more," he said.

Dow Jones Newswire reported that the FTSE 100 maintaining limited gains and shrugging off the release of BOE minutes, as much of the analytical detail was divulged in last week's quarterly inflation report, says a strategist. The minutes show the Monetary Policy Committee was divided on the appropriate level of bond purchases at its November meeting, the first three-way split in the vote since August '08. Miners continue to lead the gains, with Fresnillo +2.6 percent and Lonmin +3 percent. Still to come on the economic calendar, UK CBI industrial trends are at 11am GMT, while in the US, CPI and housing starts are at 1.30pm GMT.

The FTSE 100 had last collected 0.24 percent.