Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings cut its outlook on three Indonesian palm oil companies - Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART), Ivo Mas Tungkal, and Sawit Mas Sejahtera - from stable to negative. The rating of the three companies was cut to AA (idn) by Fitch Ratings Indonesia. However, an AA (idn) rating still denotes a low probability of default for the company and its bonds. The rating of bonds of SMAR, due in 2017 and 2019, were also cut to AA (idn). The three palm oil companies are owned by Golden Agri Resources, part of the Sinar Mas Group that is controlled by Eka Tjipta Widjaja, one of the richest Indonesians.

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International credit rating agency Fitch Ratings will host its annual Indonesia conference, with the theme “An Agenda for Change”, on Thursday 5 March 2015. This year’s theme refers to the ongoing process of reform amid political, economic and social challenges in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. High government officials, leading economists and investors will take part in this conference. For example, Indonesian Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro is scheduled to make the opening keynote speech.

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Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings reminded the investor community about the ongoing risk of a sudden reversal of capital inflows in Indonesia. In the first two months of 2014, capital inflows have been strong, reaching a total of USD $2.3 billion, a 16 percent increase from the same period last year, backed by renewed confidence in Indonesia's economic fundamentals as the current account deficit and inflation have moderated since the end of last year. However, several risks are looming causing potential volatility of capital flows.

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Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings affirmed Indonesia's long-term foreign- and local-currency issuer default ratings at 'BBB-' but revised the outlook from 'stable' to 'positive'. The improvement is primarily attributed to Indonesia's low government debt burden and favorable economic growth outlook, while structural reforms (the government's economic policy packages that have been launched since September 2015 as well as the tax amnesty program) are gradually improving the nation's business and investment climate.

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According to global credit rating and research agency Fitch Ratings, Indonesia's major banks are robust against the rupiah currency slide due to their low unhedged foreign currency exposure, strong loss-absorption cushions and - in some cases - foreign ownership. The slowdown in the economy will weigh on these (rated) banks' operating environment, but is unlikely to damage their credit profiles to any great extent. Below we provide Fitch Ratings' report. This report can also be accessed on their website.

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Garuda Indonesia, one of the major airlines in Indonesia, has announced to conduct a rights issue in October 2013. Through the rights issue, which involves the issuance of 10 percent of new shares, Garuda aims to reap USD $200 million. Garuda was a fully state-owned company before its initial public offering (IPO) in early 2011 when it released 30 percent of its shares. However, Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) had approved total public offering up to 40 percent. The remaining 10 percent is now offered through the rights issuance.

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