The JSE was firmer in midday trade on Tuesday led by resources, which were buoyed by a weaker US dollar.

At noon, the JSE all share index was 0.86 percent firmer, with resources up 1.39 percent and platinum miners 0.65 percent stronger. Gold miners were flat (-0.14 percent).

Banks and financials picked up 0.88 percent, and 0.44 percent respectively, and industrials gained 0.52 percent.

The rand was bid at 7.68 to the dollar from 7.74 when the JSE closed on Monday.

Gold was quoted at $1069.66 a troy ounce from $11065/oz at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1492/oz, from $1475/oz at the bourse's previous close.

"Resources is the main feature today, up strongly due to a weaker dollar, with those stocks also probably oversold. We may see a run over the next few days, before coming back again," a local equities trader said.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that EuroStoxx 50 +0.4 percent at 2675.5, turned positive amid rising US futures and as gains in banking and basic resources stocks provided support.

Both Xstrata +3.1 percent and ArcelorMittal +2.4 percent increased on the back of rising metals prices.

"Concerns about Greece seem to be fading a little bit," said a trader.

In the US, wholesale inventories are at 3pm GMT.

Earlier David Morrison, market analyst at GFT, said: "There is no dominant theme to this morning's session, so traders are taking a lead from US futures, which are pointing to a firmer open this afternoon.

"Traders in Europe are trying to adjust to Monday's selloff on Wall Street, which has been almost completely reversed this morning," he added.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was down 0.2 percent but Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 1.0 percent and the Shanghai Composite was 0.5 percent higher.

Japanese stocks were pushed down by weakness in some exporters, although foreigners' buying in companies, which recently reported strong earnings, limited the losses.