Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta composite index (JCI) opened slightly higher on Thursday as market players began to buy shares.

"Technical factor propped up the JCI to the positive area with market players buying shares after sharp correction yesterday," Asjaya Indosurya Securities analyst William Surya Wijaya said on Thursday.

The index of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) rose 4.10 points or 0.08 percent with 45 most liquid stocks up 0.12 percent to the level of 874.45 points.

William said rising share prices in the regional market added to the positive sentiment in the domestic market.

In addition, the central bank is expected to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 7.5 percent in line with the market expectation, he said.

"The sentiment is expected to be strong enough to offset the impact of the speculation that the Fed would raise its interest rate earlier than expected," he said.

Regional markets such as Hang Seng, Nikkei and Straits Times recorded gain in index.

Meanwhile , the value of the Indonesian currency fell again against the US dollar in the first minutes of trading on Thursday.

The currency, in interbank transactions, traded at the level of 11,822 per dollar as against 11,814 per dollar earlier.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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