REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia's main stock index rose nearly 1 percent by midday on Friday as political tensions eased and with president-elect Joko Widodo or Jokowi planning to raise the prices of subsidised fuel within two weeks of taking office. The index rose to as much as 4,998.44 from 4,951.61 on Thursday.

Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto finally congratulated Jokowi on Friday and said his party would support Jokowi, but would not hesitate to criticize any policies that they opposed. Earlier, Jokowi also met other party leaders from the opposition coalition.

"There is optimism after Joko Widodo and the opposition parties started to show more constructive communication," said Norico Gaman, head of research at BNI Securities. "He (Jokowi) is trying to show the market that there is some semblance of political stability in the country."

Jokowi also plans to raise the price of subsidised gasoline and diesel by around 50 percent within two weeks of taking office, a move that will save the government nearly 13 billion USD next year.

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