BEI INDEX OPENS OVER 20 POINTS HIGHER

Jakarta, April 26 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here Monday morning got off to a strong start on Wall Street gains.

The BEI index rose over 20 points or 0.70 percent to 2,945.184 points and the LQ-45 index rose 4.319 points or 0.76 percent to 572.274 points.

Investors actively bought small-cap and blue-chip shares and bolstered the Indonesian stocks to reach the level of nearly 2,950 points, Alfiansyah, a research analyst of PT Sinarmas Securities, said.

The BEI index might pass the level of 3,000 points this month if there is no obstacle, he said.

Foreign funds inflow in the Indonesian market continued to increase as investors diverted their funds in Thailand to Indonesia following political crisis in Thailand.

Indonesia is considered a promising market and therefore foreign businessmen investors their funds in the Indonesian domestic market, he said.

Among top gainers at the BEI were Bhakti Investama shares which rose Rp70 to Rp870 per shares, Indosiar Karya Mandiri (IDKM) shares that added Rp55 to Rp295 per share, Astra International share that advanced Rp400 to Rp46,200, Indo Tambang Mega shares that climbed Rp400 to Rp39,300, Astra Agro Lestari shares that surged Rp200 to Rp26,050, and United Tractor shares that went up Rp200 to Rp26,900.