BEI INDEX OPENS 1.34 PERCENT HIGHER EARLY THURSDAY

Jakarta, March 19 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) got off to a strong start early Thursday on gains at Wall Street and regional bourses.

The BEI index surged 17.701 points or 1.34 percent to 1,340.538, while the LQ index went up 4.294 points to 262,661 points.

President director of PT Financorpindo Nusa Edwin Sinaga said the Jakarta stocks opened eight points higher in the first minutes in morning trading. The stocks further went up 17.701 points in the first 10 minutes of trading.

"We are optimistic that the index will further gain later at noon as the market's positive sentiment is quite significant," he said.

Automotive company Astra International shares went up Rp900 to Rp14,300 per share, United Tractor shares surged to Rp5,750 from Rp5,500 per share.

Bank BRI shares gained Rp100 to Rp4,250 per share, Bank Danamon shares added Rp50 to Rp2,520, and Bank BCA shares went up Rp100 to Rp2,900 per share.

State telecommunication company PT Telkom shares advanced Rp150 to Rp6,650 per share, and Indosat shares surged Rp50 to Rp4,450 per share.