JAKARTA STOCKS CLOSE HIGHER ON BRIGHT ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

Jakarta, Nov. 30 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here on late Monday morning closed higher on bright economic prospects.

The BEI index went up 23.03 points or 0.96 percent to 2,416.55 points.

The Indonesian stocks were boosted by a signal that Indonesia was on the "radar screen " of world investors after the country managed to survive the global economic crisis with positive economic growth.

Indonesia and the United States were expected to release a number of economic data especially on the November inflation rate and their policies regarding interest rates, according to Khrisna Dwi Setiawan, a research analyst of PT Valbury Asia Securities.

"Indonesia's inflation rate in November is predicted to be lower than in the previous month, so the BI Rate is also expected to be maintained at the level of 6.5 percent by the BI Board of Directors. Bank Indonesia has also indicated this," he said.

At the stock market's morning trading close, 75 stocks lost, 54 advanced and 65 remained static. The share volume reached 2.491 billion from 47,060 transactions worth Rp2.162 trillion.

Among top gainers at the BEI were Astra International (ASII) shares that gained Rp 700 to Rp 32,700, United Tractor (UNTR) added Rp 400 to Rp 15,000, PTBA went up Rp 450 to Rp 16,250, and Telkom (TLKM) rose Rp 200 to Rp 8.950.

At Asian regional bourses, the Hang Seng index advanced 696.11 points or 3.29 percent to 21,830.61, the Nikkei 225 index rose 254.44 points or 2.80 percent to 9,332.77 points, the Singapore Strait Time index lost 54.76 points or 0.87 percent to the level 2,738.15.