The JSE saw a quiet opening on Wednesday amid fiscal uncertainty in Europe, particularly in Greece,Portugal and Spain.

The local bourse, despite thin volumes, was marginally in the black, led by commodities pushed firmer by a slightly weaker dollar.

At 09:16 the JSE all share index was 0.10 percent firmer, with resources up 0.34 percent and platinum miners 0.26 percent stronger. Gold miners were flat.

Banks and financials declined 0.41 percent and 0.11 percent respectively, with industrials flat, (down 0.07 percent).

The rand was bid at 7.67 to the dollar from 7.68 when the JSE closed on Tuesday. Gold was quoted at $1079.07 a troy ounce from $1071.76 at the JSE's last close, and platinum was at $1506 an ounce, from $1491.50 at the bourse's previous close.

A local equities trader said: "A stronger euro on the back of reports that Germany will offer Greece and other troubled Eurozone members loan guarantees and a weaker dollar has helped commodity prices, which is keeping the local bourse up.

However volumes are thin as there are still fears for Europe, particularly in Spain and Portugal. Markets are cautious as this is not going to blow over in one night."

Dow Jones Newswires reports that European stocks are called to open higher Wednesday, following a positive session on Wall Street and amid speculation Germany will step in to resolve the Greek debt crisis, said Ben Potter at IG Markets.

He called London's FTSE 100 up 19 points at 5131.

However, "there are nagging doubts as to whether this will be the end of sovereign debt crises, or whether there's still more to come, especially from other countries on the euro zone fringes," said Potter.

On the economic calendar, French industrial production and current account are at 0745 GMT, while in the US, trade balance is due at 1330 GMT.

Asian markets were mostly up on modest recovery in risk appetite, and hopes that the EU will help Greece with its fiscal problems.

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