BEI INDEX INCREASES TO ABOVE 1,900 POINTS

Jakarta, May 26 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) opened higher at above 1,900 points as investors actively purchased blue chip and small-cap shares here early Tuesday.

The BEI index jumped 10.564 points or 0.56 percent to 1,901.169 points, and the LQ-45 index gained 1.920 points or 0.52 percent to 369.530 points.

The BEI index increased as investors still bought shares, especially automotive, banking and mining shares, Ahmad Riyadi, a stock broker of PT Millennium Danatama, said here on Tuesday.

The crude oil price recovery which reached US$60 per barrel overseas also helped boost the BEI stocks, he said. The world's oil price was expected increase to US$80 per barrel, he added.

"We are optimistic that investors will continue to hunt for shares at the stock market which could push the BEI index to the level of above 1,900 points," he said.

Astra International shares rose Rp150 to Rp19,800, coal mining company Bukit Asam shares increased by Rp150 to Rp16,900, United Tractor shares advanced Rp100 to Rp9,900 per share, and BCA, BNI as well as Telkom shares respectively went up Rp50 per share, he said.

The chance for the Indonesian stocks to further increase in the morning trading session was very big, he said.