Jakarta share prices closed 0.44 percent higher on Thursday with gains in car dealer Astra International and some banks helping to lift the main index to a new record closing high, dealers said. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 9.053 points at 2,047.031, beating the previous record high of 2,037.978 set Wednesday.
Volume was 4.11 billion shares worth 3.99 trillion rupiah (456.26 million dollars). Declines led advances 108 to 86, with 48 stocks unchanged. The rupiah was trading at 8,740/8,745 to the dollar compared to 8,817/8,822 late Wednesday. "The index gain was still driven by interest-rate sensitive issues like Astra International and banks," said Noer Syamsuddin of BNI Securities.
He said Bank Indonesia's decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 8.75 percent on Tuesday continues to underpin the market. Astra International rose 400 rupiah or 2.5 percent to 16,200, Bank Mandiri gained 25 to 3,150, Bank Rakyat Indonesia added 250 or 4.6 percent to 5,700 and Bank Danamon gained 50 to 7,150.
Among other gainers, plywood producer Barito Pacific rose 180 to 910 on speculation that the firm may diversify into the plantation business. State construction firm Adhi Karya rose 30 or 3.3 percent to 930 after the company said it expected a 57 percent rise in net profit this year.
Holcim Indonesia gained 30 to 800, Inducement rose 150 to 5,750, United Tractors increased 200 to 7,750, and Astra Agro rose 150 to 15,000. Index heavyweight Telkom was flat at 9,900, Indosat was also steady at 6,650, while Gudang Garam dropped 100 to 11,750, Unilever Indonesia fell 50 to 5,900, and Inco lost 1,400 to 65,000.