Jakarta Composite Index opens higher on Thursday

Jakarta, July 2 (Antara) - The Jakarta composite share price index (JCI) opened higher on Thursday on positive regional sentiment, analysts said. The index of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) rose 0.21 percent to 4,914.42 points with index of 456 most liquid stocks up 0.32 percent to 840.07. "The JCI gained strength to follow the regional trend that followed relaxation of crisis in Greece and improved domestic economic data," chief researcher of Universal Broker Indonesia Satrio Utomo said here. Satrio said positive signals sent by banking and consumer shares ahead of Idul Fitri celebrations. However, he advised investors to remain cautious and not too aggressive in investing in those sectors. Head of Research of Valbury Asia Securities Alfiansyah said domestic economic data is relatively stable . Inflation in June was already anticipated with the rise in consumption in the Islamic fasting month, he said. The Central Bureau of Statistics announced that inflation in June was 0.54 percent higher than 0.5 percent in May. Externally, the latest report from Greece gave positive signal that negotiation would continue to break the deadlock in talk on way to prevent default in debt repayment by Greece. "Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he agreed to accept a new credit offer as a basis of compromise," Alfiansyah said. Regional markets such as Hang Seng, Nikkei and Straits Times gained in index.