JAKARTA (JP): Share prices continued losing ground on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) in thin trading yesterday.

"Asian markets seem not to be in the quiet recovery after a hike in the drop in the U.S. short-term interest rates on Monday," an analyst said.

Almost all Asian markets closed lower yesterday.

The broad-based Composite Index declined to 456.56 yesterday from 458.67 on the previous day, while the narrower-based GTDBS- 50 Index also dropped slightly to 108.17 from 108.75.

Total trading slumped to 14.75 million shares valued at Rp 77.72 billion (US$36.18 million) from 17.89 million shares worth Rp 89.26 billion (US$42.50 million).

Among yesterday's top losers were Asuransi Bintang (-Rp 600), Duta Pertiwi Nusantara (-Rp 200), Gajah Surya Multi F. (-Rp 200), HM Sampoerna (-Rp 725), Indovest (-Rp 200), Iki Kabel (-Rp 200), Indorama Synthetics (-Rp 500), Intraco Penta (-Rp 500), Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (-Rp 200), Modernland Realty Ltd. (- Rp 200), Summarecon Agung (-Rp 1,400), Sumalindo Lestari Jaya (- Rp 850) and Tembaga Mulia Semanan (-Rp 250).

Gainers included Ever Shine Textile Industry (+Rp 300), Lippo Bank (+Rp 400) and Voksel Electric (+Rp 800).

Around 5.90 million shares changed hands at Rp 24.81 billion on the regular market, 6.85 million shares at Rp 46.48 billion on the cross trading board, 1.99 million shares at Rp 6.42 billion on the foreign board and 400 shares at Rp 980,000 on the odd lot board.

The block sale and cash trading boards recorded no transactions yesterday. (fhp)