"Selling pressure by investors pushed down the BEI index," analyst Yuganur Wijanarko said.
Jakarta (ANTARA Bews) - The Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) opened trade on Friday morning with the composite share price index down slightly on profit taking.

"Selling pressure by investors pushed down the BEI index," HD Capital`s analyst Yuganur Wijanarko said here on Friday.

The BEI index fell 2.40 points or 0.05 percent to 4,992.13 points with the index of 45 most liquid stocks down 0.07 percent to 847.22 points.

Yuganur said technically the fall of the index was not long, adding it would rise anytime soon to hit a new record.

Meanwhile, Sinarmas Sekuritas` analyst Tessa Mulia predicted the index would fluctuate hovering slightly lower around 4,950-5,000 points.

"Unemployment rate claim to be issued by the US government and deflation announcement by Japan would give additional sentiment to index movements today," Tessa said.

Regional markets Hang Seng reported a 1.21 percent rise in index to 22,672.21 points with, Nikkei-225 index up 0.04 percent to 13,931.97 points and Straits Times gained 0.31 percent to 3,347.92 points .

Meanwhile, the Indonesian currency rupiah gained three points against the US dollars with Bank Indonesia set to keep the currency stable.

Rupiah traded at the level of 9,712 to the dollar in inter-bank transaction rising in value from 9,715 on Thursday`s close.

"Bank Indonesia will continue to maintain rupiah stability," Ruly Nova, a market observer from Bank Himpunan Saudara, predicted here on Friday.

Ruly said the Indonesian Central Bank is expected to keep the value of rupiah under control ahead of the rise of the subsidized oil fuel prices to prevent possible surge in inflation.

The government is expected to raise the prices of subsidized oil fuels in May in a bid to curb swelling energy subsidy.

He said the dollar still tends to weaken on negative sentiment post the release of US data of durable goods orders which fell below expectation.

"The condition weakened the US dollar against Asian currencies including rupiah this morning ," he said.

Trust Securities` analyst Reza Priyambada said the rupiah rise followed the strengthening of euro and pounds on improved British economy.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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