Jakarta remains shut

Indonesia suspended trading on the local stock exchange for a third day running Friday on fears of following Asian markets on their nightmare downward slide, an official said. The management of the Indonesia Stock Exchange decided to extend the suspension into the afternoon session after earlier deciding on a freeze for the morning only, bourse director Erry Firmansyah told Dow Jones Newswires.
Trading on the Indonesia Stock Exchange was first suspended after it plunged more than 10 percent to a two-year low in early trade Wednesday following huge losses on Wall Street, as global financial turmoil hit Southeast Asia's largest economy. The local index has lost over 20 percent of its value this week.