JAKARTA, May 27 (Reuters) - Jakarta stocks ended higher on Tuesday in moderate trading, helped by carmaker Astra International .
Some analysts said weaker trading in some key overseas bourses capped the upward momentum of the local market.
"The trading was lethargic as the market referred to the weak overseas market," said Rudy Pandjaitan, a dealer from E-Capital Securities.
The Jakarta Composite Index edged 0.39 percent higher to 480.27 points in moderate trading turnover with 347.05 billion rupiah ($42.45 million) worth of shares changing hands.
Gainers outnumbered losers 109 to 44 while 68 shares unchanged.
Astra gained 1.41 percent to 3,600 rupiah as investors find the company attractive following a recent surge in the rupiah currency.
Singapore's Cycle & Carriage holds a 35.05 percent stake in Astra.
Analysts said investors expected an improvement in the company's financial performance as the stronger rupiah would reduce the burden of servicing Astra's dollar denominated debts.
For the remainder of the week, analysts hold a mixed view, some of them expecting a lethargic mood as investors may be reluctant to take fresh positions ahead of a long weekend.
The rupiah was quoted at 8,175/8,185 to the dollar late on Tuesday.