Factors set to play a role on local financial markets today, include forex movements, weaker commodity prices and the performance of global markets. On forex markets, the Euro received a boost following a report that said China should raise its holdings of the European currency and the yen.

Investors are also set to hold back in anticipation of government's medium term budget framework which will be delivered tomorrow. Analysts say that government may unveil a shift to the left in fiscal policy. These concerns weighed on the Rand and government bonds. Analysts say that government may announce increased spending plans for the next three years, abandoning a fiscal stance that has helped investors overlook rampant crime, mass unemployment, and income inequality for the past decade.

US markets
US stocks fell on Friday, with blue chip shares slipping below the 10 000 level, as weak results from industrial companies overshadowed robust earnings from tech heavy-weights. The Dow Jones fell 109 points, or 1.1% to end at 9 972. The Nasdaq Composite closed 11 points down at 2 154. The S & P 500 shed 13 points, or 1.2% to finish at 1 080.

European markets

European markets ended mixed going into the weekend. London's FTSE 100 climbed 35 points to 5 243. In Paris, the CAC dipped 13 points to 3 808. Frankfurt's DAX closed 23 points easier at 5 740.

Resources stocks kept the JSE afloat on Friday. The overall index gained 70 points to 26 802. Financials dipped 96 points to 19 289, while industrials added 70 points to 25 352. The gold board gave up nine points to 2 589. The top 20 resources climbed 332 points to 48 525.

Asian markets

Markets in the Asia-Pacific region are mixed this morning. In Tokyo, the Nikkei gained 54 points to 10 337. Sydney's ASX retreated 28 points to 4 832. Markets in Hong Kong are closed today.

Platinum is trading at $1356.50 and gold at $1055.50 an ounce.

Finally, the spot price of Brent crude oil is softer at $77.17 a barrel.