Jakarta Index Down Slightly on Wednesday

Jakarta, March 13 (Antara) - The Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) started trading on Wednesday morning with the composite share price index slipping 3.54 points to follow the regional trend. The BEI index fell 3.54 points or 0.07 percent to 4,850.77 points with index of 45 most liquid stocks falling 0.89 points or 0.11 percent to 830.82 points. "Most of Asian markets fell after last week`s rally," Samuel Sekuritas` analyst Adrianus Bias said here on Wednesday. Adrianus attributed the fall to profit taking by market players prompted by lower than expected growth of Chinese industrial production in 2013. He predicted that the BEI index would close lower on Wednesday with minimum positive sentiment from global market and correction after last week`s rally in Asia. Panin Sekuritas` analyst Purwoko Sartono said after Tuesday`s holiday, the BEI index is expected to consolidate moves and the market is awaiting financial reports by issuers. "The BEI index is estimated to hover around 4,823-4,879 points today." he said. At 09.30 local time, the index reversed to gain slightly 0.07 percent to 4,857.85 points. Regional markets Hang Seng recorded a 0.35 percent fall in index to 22,810.99 points , Nikkei-225 posted a decrease of 0.20 percent in index to 12,290.42 points and Straits Times fell 0.21 percent in index to 3,296.05 points.