Jakarta Composite Index And Rupiah Extend Gain

Jakarta, Dec 19 (Antara) - The Jakarta composite index extended gain on Friday opening 0.55 percent higher to follow the regional trend, analysts said. The index of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) rose 28.36 points with index of 45 most liquid stocks up 0.81 percent to 888.54 points. Asian markets including BEI gained to follow the US market that shot up 2.5 percent Thursday might boosted by the Fed statement that it would not be in a hurry to raise its benchmark interest rate. The statement dismissed speculation that the US central bank might raise its interest rate earlier, Samuel Sekuritas` analyst Tiesha Narandha Putri said. The Fed`s policy arm, Federal Open Market Committee suggested that if needed it could wait until beyond mid-2015 to raise its rate despite strong recovery of the US economy. In addition, the gain recorded by rupiah served a positive sentiment to the domestic market. Rupiah traded at the level of 12,468 per dollars in the opening session on Friday gaining from earlier level of 12,562 per dollar. Head of Research of Valbury Asia Securities Alfiansyah said that the market players were less worried after the rupiah regained some of its lost value against the US dollar. Regional markets such as Hang Seng , Nikkei and Straits Times also extended gain on Friday. Chief researcher of Woori Korindo Securities Indonesia Reza Priyambada attributed the rupiah strengthening to intervention by Bank Indonesia (BI). The central bank statement saying that it would protect rupiah within the level of 11,900-12,300 gave a positive sentiment as it signaled certainty, Reza said. The signal given by the Federal Open Market Committee also contributed to the rupiah rise in value, he said. Financial market observer from Bank Himpunan Saudara, Rully Nova, said part of financial market investors began to ignore the Fed rate sentiment, giving a positive sentiment to the currencies of the emerging market including rupiah. Meanwhile seriousness shown by the government in improving the country`s infrastructure also serves a positive sentiment to the domestic market, Rully said.