BEI INDEX OPENS HIGHER ON SMALL-CAP BUYING

Jakarta, Dec. 30 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here on Wednesday morning opened 0.47 percent higher, to nearly 2,550 points on small-cap share buying.

The BEI index went up 11.894 points to 2,530.841 and the LQ-45 index rose 2.633 points or 0.59 percent to 498.178 points.

Investors were eager to buy small-cap shares because they were profitable, Alfiansyah, a research analyst of PT Sinarmas Securities, said here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Farial Anwar, a domestic capital market observer, predicted the Indonesian stock exchange would be better in 2010 as foreign investors were optimistic that Indonesia's sound economic growth.