The JSE came off its earlier low levels and was flat by noon on Tuesday with buyers coming back into the market after positive GDP data, a trader said.

At 12.16pm the JSE all share index was 0.22 percent weaker, led by resources losing 0.53 percent, gold producers giving up 1.22 percent and platinum counters declining 1.22 percent.

Banks and financials were flat, up 0.15 percent and 0.09 percent respectively, while industrials eased 0.09 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.47 to the dollar, from 7.47 when the JSE closed on Monday. Gold was quoted at $1168.10 a troy ounce from $1170.60 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1455/oz, from $1452/oz at its previous close.

"We have moved flat, the market has picked up from its earlier lows. Everyone wanted to see the GDP data, which came out positive, moving the market again.

"Buying has come back in broadly. The mood in the market is still positive. Buying is moving in particularly in the banks and retail. There are a couple of stocks that are down, but those have seen a bit of a run in the last few days.

"Metals prices are still quite strong and the dollar has weakened a bit again since late last week," he said.

"The actual economic news out there, both locally and internationally, looks like there is some recovery out there.

"For the rest of the day, we will probably need some direction from overseas and at the moment Dow futures are slightly lower. But it's not too surprising, the market is performing really well," he added.

Dow Jones Newswire reported that the FTSE 100 stayed low with miners giving back some of Monday's gains as the dollar gains ground against the pound. On the upside, however, Lloyds Banking Group +1.8 percent after it prices its rights issue at 37p a share, a 60 percent discount from Monday's closing price.

On the economic calendar, the release of revised US GDP at 1.30pm GMT and consumer confidence data at 3pm GMT could spur a further rise in risk aversion, said Kenneth Broux, market economist at Lloyds Banking Group.

The FSTE 100 was last down 0.33 percent.

US stocks are called to open a touch lower on Tuesday, taking a breather after the big gains in the previous session. David Morrison at GFT said the sell-off in Asian equities added pressure and he also noted the bounce in the dollar. He called the DJIA down 30 points and the S&P 500 down three points. There is plenty of potentially market-moving economic news.