Indonesian shares slightly higher

Indonesian shares ended 0.72 percent higher Thursday led by gains in banks, dealers said. The Jakarta Composite Index gained 17.64 points to 2,456.99. "The index may rise to 2,500 in the near term," a trader told Dow Jones Newswires. Bank Mandiri gained 3.9 percent to 4,725 rupiah, Bank Central rose 5.7 percent to 4,625, Bank Negara Indonesia soared 2.5 percent to 2,050 and Bank Danamon increased 6.2 percent to 4,750.
Stocks may continue to edge up next week before pulling back, dealers said. The rupiah ended at 9,730 to the dollar compared to 9,705 at the last close.