Jakarta Index Gains On Monday

Jakarta, Feb 17 (Antara) - The Jakarta composite index extended gain on Monday opening 0.74 percent higher on improvement of financial reports published by a number of listed companies. The index of the Indonesian Stock Exchange rose 33.21 points to 4,541.25 with index of 45 most liquid stocks up one percent to 765.13 points. "Improvements recorded in the financial reports of a number of listed companies for 2013 boosted investors," Head of Research of Valbury Asia Securities Alfiansyah said here on Monday. In addition externally the sentiment is favorable for the domestic market, he said. He predicted the rising trend of BEI index would be slowing down after crossing the psychological level of 4,500 points in the area of "being overbought." "In the first days of this week, the BEI index would consolidate above the psychological level," he said. Regional markets such as Hang Seng recorded a 1.05 percent increase in index to 22,532.23 points with index of Nikkei up 0.27 percent to 14,350.48 points and that of Straits Times up 0.67 percent to 3,059 points.