JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Composite index of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) ended lower 0.37% at 4703 Tuesday (March 25), but closed off its lows.

Asian shares were in a defensive mode on Tuesday after Wall Street fell overnight, though still-vague hopes of a new stimulus plan in China could improve investor sentiment, Reuters reported.

In Jakarta bourse, giant coal miner Bumi Resources (BUMI) dropped 6%, Lippo Karawaci lost 3%, Jababebak fell 1.18%, Bank Tabungan Negara shed 1.2%, and Wijaya Karya declined 1.05%.

Plantation stocks were also focus of selling. London Sumatra dropped 4.64%, Bakrie Sumatra Plantations lost 5.66%, and BW Plantation fell 2.94%.

Among gainers were Bank Rakyat Indonesia (+1.06%), Vale Indonesia (+1.8%), and Timah (+4.07%).

Nymex’s crude oil increased 0.17% to US$99.77 per barrel and gold rose 0.37% to US$1,316.10 per ounce. The rupiah strengthened further to Rp11,357 against the US Dollar.