Jakarta shares jump in quiet trade

11 Oct, 2005

Indonesian share prices closed 0.74 percent higher on Monday with a rebound in Telkom and Indosat driving the composite index up in an otherwise quiet market, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index added 8.128 points to 1,102.780 on volume of 609.17 million shares worth 618.23 billion rupiah (61.48 million dollars.).
Advancers led decliners 59 to 43, while 67 stocks were unchanged. The rupiah was at 10,065/10,075 to the dollar compared to Friday's closing level of 10,030/10,040.
"There was no particular news lead to explain the market's upward movement today," said Equity Development Securities analyst Nugraha Adi.
He said trading was quiet probably because investors are concerned about the possibility of protests against the recent fuel price erupting after the fasting month, which ends early November.
The government raised fuel prices by an average 126 percent from October 1, sending prices of other goods and services soaring.
Foreign brokerages were also quiet, discouraging local investors from taking fresh positions, Adi said. For Tuesday he expected the same directionless trade.
Telkom rose 100 rupiah to 5,200 rupiah and Indosat gained 50 rupiah to 5,700 rupiah, recouping part of their losses on Friday.
Excelcomindo rose 300 rupiah to 4,050 rupiah, almost doubling its listing debut price of 2,200 on September 29. Adi attributed the rise to speculation that more investors will buy the stock before a mass sell-off sets in.
Car dealer Astra International fell 50 rupiah to 9,350 rupiah while its heavy equipment unit United Tractors was up 75 rupiah at 3,700 rupiah.
Cigarette firm Gudang Garam was flat at 11,050 rupiah while state gas distributor Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) lost 200 rupiah to close at 5,400 rupiah.
Dealers attributed PGN's gains to its plan to raise gas prices starting October 15 and as the government plans to sell a further stake in the company this year.
State-owned Bank Mandiri added 20 rupiah at 1,470 rupiah after a local court today opened corruption trials against three former directors of the bank.
The three are being accused of causing a 160 billion rupiah loss to the state for failing to comply with prudent procedures when it extended loans to PT Cipta Graha Nusantara.
Bank Rakyat Indonesia was up 50 rupiah at 2,500 rupiah while Bank Central Asia gained 50 rupiah to close at 3,475 rupiah.

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