Today (21/01), the government of Indonesia auctions rupiah-denominated state bonds of IDR 10 billion (USD $833 million) in order to reap funds to finance targets set in the government's 2014 state budget (APBN 2014). The bonds, involving the new issuance of SPN12150108 and re-openings of series FR0069, FR0070, and FR0071, have a nominal value of IDR 1 million each. Series SPN12150108 is issued at a discount yield. The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) organizes the auction using a multiple price method.

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On Thursday (09/01), the US dollar appreciated after the release of the minutes of the FOMC’s December meeting as well as positive US employment data. The minutes show that Federal Reserve policy makers are confident that the economy is strong enough to start scaling back its quantitative easing program, although the minutes do not provide a clear schedule about the tapering. Yesterday (08/01), it was also released that private-sector payrolls increased by 238,000 positions in December 2013.

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The Indonesia rupiah exchange rate is moving sideways on Wednesday's trading day (08/01). At 13:00 local Jakarta time, the rupiah was down 0.02 percent to IDR 12,240 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. This morning the US dollar slightly depreciated against most Asian currencies after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said to plan to upgrade its forecast for global economic growth as the US economy improves. Yesterday, Indonesia held Asia's largest US dollar-denominated bonds since 1998.

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The Indonesian government will issue Euro-denominated bonds in 2014. This will be the first time in Indonesian history that the government issues bonds in the Euro currency. Aim of the issuance, which will have a maturity date ranging from 5 to 10 years, is government loan refinancing. Scenaider CH Siahaan, Director for Strategy and Debt Portfolio at the Finance Ministry's Directorate General of Debt Management, said that the government will hold a total of 44 bond auctions in 2014.

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In anticipation of tighter US dollar supplies, the government of Indonesia is considering the issuance of euro-denominated bonds in 2014. This would be the first time for the government to issue bonds in the currency. Robert Pakpahan, head of the debt office within Indonesia's Finance Ministry, said that they are discussing both euro- and yen-denominated sovereign bonds, equivalent to USD $6 billion. The bonds will be used to cover the country's budget deficit, which is set at 1.69 percent of GDP or IDR 175.4 trillion (USD $15.5 billion) in 2014.

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The Indonesia Stock Exchange expects that 30 companies will conduct their initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2014. This target is the same as the target that had been set for this year. Next year, legislative and political elections in Indonesia will bring some uncertainties to the Indonesian market and may be a reason for some companies to postpone the IPO. Up to now, six companies have announced to conduct their IPO in 2014. In 2013 so far, 25 companies have been newly listed on the IDX.

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For the first time since April 2013, Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves have shown a small growth. Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) stated that in late August, the foreign exchange reserves rose to USD $92.99 billion from USD $92.67 billion a month earlier. The growth was a surprise as continued capital outflows from Indonesia's financial markets was expected to translate into lower reserves. Last week, Indonesia's benchmark stock index fell 2.97 percent, while the rupiah fell 2.55 percent against the US dollar.

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Indonesia Investments has updated the company profile of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), one of the leading commercial banks in Indonesia and the country's second largest lender by assets. The bank's business focus mainly lies on banking services in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME’s). BRI was a state-owned company until 2003 when it listed 30 percent of its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). It is currently one of the largest Indonesian companies in terms of market capitalization.

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Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia's national airline, is planning to sell bonds worth IDR 2 trillion (US $205.1 million) in Quarter II - 2013. The bonds, which are denominated in IDR rupiah, will have a five-year maturity. Proceeds of the bond issuance will be used by the company for capital expenditure (capex), which includes investments in aircrafts and working capital. The airline is currently searching for a lead underwriter through a tender.

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Nippon Indosari Corpindo, Indonesia’s largest producer of bread products, will not pursue a stock split to improve its stocks' liquidity on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG). According to analysts, the company's stocks are fairly active and thus will not need such a measure. Nippon Indosari's stocks have fallen by around 11 percent this year. This performance is in stark contrast with 2012 when it gained 112.3 percent during the year.

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Between 29 September and 19 October 2017, the Indonesian government offers its new series of (conventional) Indonesian Retail Bonds (in Indonesian: Obligasi Ritel Indonesia, or ORI) to Indonesian retail investors. Since 2006 the Indonesian government has been issuing ORI bonds, at least once per year, to finance the government's state budget.

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Two state-controlled companies are planning to issue global rupiah-denominated bonds (often called nasi goreng bonds). Construction company Wijaya Karya, which is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, plans to issue up to USD $500 million of nasi goreng bonds in the second half of 2017. Besides the nasi goreng bonds, the company also plans to sell up to IDR 5 trillion of rupiah-denominated bonds on the domestic market.

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Indonesian state-controlled toll road operator - yet listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange - Jasa Marga considers to issue rupiah-denominated global bonds as an alternative source to seek funds for investment in toll road infrastructure development. Donny Arsal, Finance Director of Jasa Marga, said the company needs IDR 7 trillion (approx. USD $526 million) for investment in 2017. These funds should be collected through bonds, asset securitization, and bank loans.

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The government of Indonesia plans to sell another series of sharia-compliant government retail bonds (in Indonesian: Sukuk Negara Ritel, abbreviated Sukri). The offering period is planned for 4 February - 2 March 2017. However, Suminto, Islamic Financing Director at the Budget Financing and Risk Management Office within Indonesia's Finance Ministry, did not inform about the indicative target for this issuance. He only informed local media that the target of the bond issuance will be in line with the government's financing needs and existing market conditions.

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The Indonesian government sold €3 billion worth of euro-denominated bonds (Surat Utang Negara, or SUN) on Tuesday (07/06) consisting of €1.5 billion of 7-year tenure bonds with a yield of 2.772 percent and €1.5 billion of 12-year tenure bonds with a yield of 3.906 percent. Combined, the issuance was oversubscribed 1.79 times with a total book order for the dual-trance bonds at €8.36 billion. Robert Pakpahan, Director General of Financing and Risk Management at Indonesia's Finance Ministry, said funds will be used to finance the 2016 budget deficit, which is expected to widen to 2.48 percent of GDP.

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One of Indonesia's long standing companies - and also one of the most controversial ones in Indonesia - Bakrie & Brothers plans to offer part of its shares to creditors Mitsubishi Corporation, Glencore International, and Eurofa Capital Investment in a debt for equity swap. This plan is part of the company's efforts to restructure USD $453 million worth of debt through mandatory convertible bonds. Indra Ginting, Chief Investor Relation Officer at Bakrie & Brothers, confirmed the company owes Mitsubishi USD $150 million, Glencore USD $200 million, and Eurofa Capital USD $103 million.

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In the past two weeks, two of the big international credit rating agencies released new reports about Indonesia's fiscal situation. Both agencies affirmed Indonesia's sovereign debt rating: Fitch Ratings kept Indonesia at BBB-/stable (investment grade class) and Standard & Poor's (S&P) maintained Indonesia at BB+/positive (highest junk level, one notch below investment grade). S&P's decision to keep Indonesia within the junk level category was met with disappointment among investors and Indonesian government officials but perhaps not that surprisingly.

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There is strong demand for Indonesia's sharia-compliant government retail bonds (in Indonesian: Sukuk Negara Ritel, abbreviated Sukri). Since the launch of series SR-008 on Friday (19/02), a number of sales agents have run out of quota. These financial institutions now request additional quota from the government. The three year SR-008 series carries a fixed coupon of 8.3 percent per year (and is tradable on the secondary market). The government of Indonesia targets to collect up to IDR 30 trillion (approx. USD $2.2 billion) in funds from the issuance. Sukri bonds are only available to Indonesian citizens.

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Some concern has been raised about the inflow of foreign 'hot money' into Indonesia amid accomodative monetary policies conducted by central banks of the Eurozone and Japan (the latter implemented negative interest rates in late-January). The world's carry traders are now seeking cheap funds in advanced economies and invest these funds in assets that have attractive returns such as Indonesian bonds and stocks. Indonesia's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) is still relatively high at 7.0 percent after a 25 basis points cut at Bank Indonesia's February 2016 policy meeting.

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American financial services company Standard & Poor's warns that defaults by Indonesian companies are a serious threat over the next 18 months given their eroded balance sheets amid the country's current economic slowdown. The warning came after Indonesian mobile phone retailer Trikomsel Oke announced plans to restructure about USD $155 million worth of debt as it may not be capable to meet obligations indefinitely.

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