BEI INDEX OPENS SLIGHTLY LOWER

Jakarta, March 22 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here on Monday morning weakened by 0.12 percent as market players released shares following losses in regional exchanges.

The BEI index fell 3.285 points to 2,738.231 points, and the LQ-45 index declined 0.20 percent or 1.067 point to 534.712 points.

The fall was temporary as the market was still positive and foreign funds continued to flow into the domestic market, said Ahmad Riyadi, PT Millenium Danathama Securities, here on Monday.

Foreign investors tended to increase their investment funds in Indonesia which is considered a potential market, he said.

He believed the BEI index would reach the level of 3,000 points despite the present slight decline.

Bumi mining shares traded at a total volume of 44.59 million worth Rp89.11 billion at the final rate of Rp2,500 per share, or down Rp75 per share.

Bank Mandiri shares were sold at 11.98 million worth Rp23.27 billion, down Rp100 to Rp500 per share.

Indo Tambang Mega shares fell Rp400 to Rp35,000, Astra Agro Lestari plunged Rp200 to Rp24,650.

The rupiah in the Jakarta interbank spot market, Monday morning, remained at the level of Rp9,100-Rp9,110 per US dollar, the same as at weekend.

Investors were waiting for an announcement by Bank Indonesia (BI) on an adjustment of the Indonesian central bank's key rate, Krisna Dwi Setiawan, a foreign exchange analyst of PT Valbury Asia Securities, said.