Johannesburg - The JSE opened lower on Tuesday on the back of negative sentiments due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Asian markets are weaker as the chaos in the Middle East extends to Libya.

By 09:20 local time, the JSE all share index was down 0.69%, with platinum miners sliding 1.58%, gold counters dropping 0.47% and resources declining 0.51%. Banks fell 0.83%, financials were down 0.65% and industrials lost 0.89%.

The rand was bid at R7.19 to the dollar from R7.15 at the JSE's close on Monday. Gold was quoted at $1 400.19 a troy ounce from $1 403.22/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was at $1 835.50/oz from $1 850.50/oz before.

"We are taking our cue from Asian markets. There is a little bit of a blow-up in the Middle East," an equity strategist said.

Even though commodity prices were still firmer, local recourse stocks dropped.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that Asian stock markets were lower on Tuesday, weighed by continued political tensions in the Middle East. In New Zealand, stocks were also pulled down by an earthquake that hit the country's second-largest city of Christchurch.

"International turmoil in the Middle East and the Dow (Jones Industrial Average) being closed for an extra day has seen European markets lead the way with falls (Monday) and that is affecting sentiment," said Craigs Investment Partners broker Bryon Burke in New Zealand. US markets were shut on Monday for Presidents' Day.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was down 1.7%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.8%, and South Korea's Kospi Composite lost 1.9%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 2.0% lower, Taiwan's main index lost 2.4%, and the Shanghai Composite index fell 2.1%.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 94 points in screen trade.