BEI INDEX OPENS HIGHER ON WALL STREET GAINS

Jakarta, Dec. 10 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) got off to a strong start here on Thursday morning on Wall Street gains.

The BEI index went up 6.694 points or 0.28 percent to 2,488.266 points, and the LQ-45 index rose 1.179 points or 0.24 percent to 491.869 points.

Krisna Dwi Setiawan, a research analyst of PT Valbury Securities, was optimistic that Indonesian stocks could reach the level of 2,500 points on Wall Street gains.

Investors were confident that Indonesia's markets could give better profits than other Asian markets.

The Indonesian stock market was the second most attractive in Asia after China, he said.

Among top gainers at the BEI were United Tractor shares that rose Rp200 to Rp15,350, Indo Tambang Mega shares that went up Rp200 to Rp15,350, Telkom shares that added Rp100 to Rp9,350, and Astra shares that advanced Rp100 to Rp32,200.

BTPN shares increased Rp75 to Rp3,675, Gudang Garam shares gained Rp50 to Rp18,750, and BNI shares rose Rp25 to Rp2,025
Meanwhile, the rupiah strengthened against US dollar in the Jakarta interbank spot market here on Thursday morning as investors started to buy the local unit which had weakened earlier.

The Indonesian currency traded Rp9,418-Rp9,425 per US dollar, up 17 points from Rp9,435-Rp9,445 per US dollar at the market's close a day earlier.

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