Indonesian share prices closed 0.93 percent higher on Friday led by mining stocks, with blue chip Astra International extending its gains on hopes of better car sales, dealers said.
They said mining stocks rose as they benefited from strong world commodity prices overnight. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 11.587 points at 1,261.265 on volume of 1.35 billion shares valued at 1.39 trillion rupiah (151 million US dollars).
Advancing stocks led decliners 77 to 32, while 69 stocks were unchanged.
The rupiah was at 9,180/9,190 to the dollar, unchanged from Thursday's level.
Batavia Prosperindo Sekuritas analyst Irvin Padmadiwiria said Wednesday's release of inflation data showing a slowdown in February continued to support market sentiment.
The February consumer price index rose by 0.58 percent month-on-month, compared to 1.36 percent in January, as the start of the harvest season slowed the rise in food prices.
"Astra's gains are premature. People use the low inflation (data) as a sign that interest rates are to fall, which in turn should raise car sales," Padmadiwiria said.
Padmadiwiria said the market will be prone to profit-taking next week, with investors closely watching Bank Indonesia's board of governors' meeting on Tuesday when they may change the key interest rate.
Among major stocks, Astra International gained 300 rupiah to close at 10,200 and its heavy equipment unit United Tractors added 50 to finish at 4,100.
State gas distributor Perusahaan Gas Negara rose 100 to 9,500, rebounding from recent losses.
State gold and nickel miner Antam was up 100 at 4,400 and nickel miner INCO surged by 1,300, or 7.88 percent, to 17,800, while coal miner Bumi Resources added 20 rupiah to 910.
Market mover Telkom was up 50 at 6,450.
Bank Mandiri was flat at 1,690 and Bank Rakyat Indonesia was also steady at 3,375.