The JSE traded in the red in the opening session on Thursday, pushed lower by pressured eastern markets while the US celebrates Thanksgiving today.

At 9.33am the JSE all share index was 0.51 percent weaker, led by a 0.65 percent drop for platinum miners and a 0.51 percent decline in resources. Gold miners, however, advanced 0.58 percent.

Banks weakened 0.73 percent, financials gave up 0.67 percent and industrials moved 0.41 percent lower.

The rand was bid at 7.36 to the dollar, from 7.42 when the JSE closed on Wednesday. Gold was quoted at $1188.47 a troy ounce from $1180.50 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1468 an ounce, from $1471 the bourse's previous close.

A local trader said: "Brent oil was down, while eastern markets are under pressure this morning, which has transferred to a negative start for the local bourse with Anglo, Billiton and Sasol all trading down.

"On the local front, Naspers seemingly produced good results. With Thanksgiving in the US today, we don't expect too much activity, but let's wait and see - for now there is very little to provide significant direction."

Dow Jones Newswires reported that crude oil futures receded in Asian trade on Thursday amid weaker Asian equity markets and a slight recovery in the US dollar, paring strong overnight gains.

European stock markets are expected to open lower on Thursday, with investors reluctant to put more cash on the table with the US markets closed for Thanksgiving and Asian stocks weaker.

Meanwhile, the dollar remains weak against the yen, gold has hit a fresh high and oil prices have eased back.

Share trading is likely to be muted as Wall Street will be on holiday and little fundamental data is scheduled. It's likely that global equity markets will plod along for the rest of the week, with little impetus to move higher, said Ben Potter, research analyst at IG Markets.

"There may be some cause for cheer, however, on the basis that we didn't see a big sell off on Wall Street ahead of Thursday's close. But any further meaningful direction is going to be difficult to find in the short term," Potter added.

Japan's Nikkei 225 traded down 0.6 percent, while South Korea's Kospi Composite was off 0.7 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 1.6 percent and China's Shanghai Composite index was down 3.5 percent.

"Equity markets will be sluggish for the next few days with the US market winding down for Thanksgiving," said David Halliday, associate director at Macquarie Private Wealth. US markets are closed Thursday, and will reopen Friday.

Elsewhere, spot gold hit another record in Asian trading on Thursday, at $1195.50 per troy ounce, extending its gains after strong buying late in the US session, news of more central bank buying of gold and a weaker dollar.

Among equity movers on the JSE, Anglo American plc fell 2.80 rand to 326.20 rand and BHP Billiton moved 1.24 rand lower, to 233.49 rand.

Petrochemicals group Sasol dropped 2.30 rand to 299.70 rand.

Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti collected two rand to 335 rand.

Platinum miner Anglo Platinum declined 5.61 rand to 748.99 rand, Northam Platinum dipped 70 cents, or 1.70 percent, to 40.45 rand and Lonmin slipped 4.39 rand, or 1.98 percent, to 217.61 rand.

Kumba Iron Ore leaked 2.83 rand, or 1.07 percent, to 262.35 rand.

Among industrials on the JSE, Imperial wavered 88 cents, or 1.05 percent, to 83.17 rand, with Tiger Brands down 1.26 rand to 164 rand.

Among banks, Absa was down 1.84 rand, or 1.44 percent, to 125.76 rand, RMB Holdings moved 45 cents, or 1.59 percent, lower to 27.83 rand and Sanlam declined 26 cents, or 1.16 percent, to 22.24 rand.

Shoprite was 78 cents lighter, or 1.23 percent, to 62.50 rand.

Pretoria Portland Cement dropped 40 cents, or 1.26 percent, to 31.30 rand.

Sugar group Illovo was up 55 cents, or 1.82 percent, to 30.75 rand.

Media giant Naspers fell 3.73 rand, or 1.30 percent, to 284.27 rand. Naspers earlier reported headline earnings per share of 6.48 rand for the six months ended September 30, up 36 percent from 4.76 rand earlier.

Fully diluted core HEPS of 6.34 rand were reported from 4.70 rand earlier.

Earnings per ordinary share were at 4.24 rand, from 10.15 rand earlier, with diluted EPS of 4.15 rand, from 10.02 rand previously.

Revenue was up to 13.5 billion rand, up 6 percent from 12.65 billion rand earlier.

The group made an operating profit of 1.93 billion rand, from 1.66 billion rand previously.

Telecommunications group Vodacom gave back 70 cents, or 1.18 percent, to 58.80 rand.