It was another impressive day at the office for the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) surged 1.35 percent to 5,242.82 points on Wednesday (21/07). After Thailand's benchmark index, the Jakarta Composite Index was the best performing index in Asia today. Overall, Asian markets were mixed as most investors seem to reassess the global economy after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decided to cut its global growth outlook (modestly) on Tuesday (19/07).

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In the post-Brexit reality, stocks have been performing well, worldwide, with the exception of the week of 4 July when markets were hit by profit-taking amid heightened concern about the world's economic fundamentals. Apart from that week (when Indonesian markets were closed for a public holiday) stocks have been rallying, fueled by optimism about monetary stimulus from key central banks. So far this week, gains in worldwide stocks reappeared, fed by a positive (but not too positive) US jobs report and the prospect of more stimulus from central banks.

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After Indonesia's markets have been closed for one full week due to the Idul Fitri holiday, they are back open today (11/07). Because of last week's holiday, Indonesia's stock market has not experienced the sell-off that occurred in other markets in the week of 4 - 8 July. This sell-off followed a relief-rally in global markets after the Brexit vote decision: although shortly after Brexit, global shares gained on central bank's stimulus hopes, the sell-off emerged one week later as investors started to be concerned about the impact of Brexit and the economic fundamentals of Europe.

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The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) aim to boost the number of listed companies in Indonesia by making it easier for companies to go public in an initial public offering (IPO). One strategy is the setting up of "Go Public" information centers in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia. This would mean that company officials will not need to travel to Jakarta to collect documents and provide data to the IDX. Soon, this will be possible in the regional centers. These centers can also introduce underwriters to companies that are interested to go public.

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In line with other Asian assets, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah strengthened on Monday (20/06) as falling odds of a "Brexit" boosts risk appetite. Voters in the United Kingdom will decide in a referendum on Thursday (23/06) whether or not to remain part of the European Union (EU). An exit of the UK from the EU (the so-called "Brexit") is expected to cause a major global shock and flight to safety. The latest opinion polls, however, indicate a growing chance that the UK will remain part of the UK, hence causing a sigh of relief on global markets. Meanwhile, oil prices were up on the weakening US dollar.

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Indonesian independent power producer Cikarang Listrindo raised IDR 2.4 trillion (approx. USD $180.5 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Tuesday (14/06). The company is the first independent power producer to go public in Indonesia and the 5th firm to be added on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2016. Cikarang Listrindo floated 9.7 percent of its enlarged share capital on the bourse. On its trading debut its shares rose 2.6 percent from IDR 1,500 to IDR 1,540 a piece.

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It was a bad start of the new trading week. Stocks in Asia were deep in the red due to risk aversion, falling the most in four weeks amid concern about the "Brexit" referendum, uncertainty before this week's central bank meetings in the USA and Japan, falling crude oil prices, and the worst mass shooting in modern US history. Indonesia was among the affected markets; the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.84 percent to 4,807.23 on Monday (13/06), while the rupiah only depreciated slightly to IDR 13,298 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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Duta Intidaya, an Indonesia-based health and beauty products retailer, targets to collect up to IDR 90.8 billion (approx. USD $6.7 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange that is planned for June 2016. This would make Duta Intidaya, the operator of the Watsons stores in Indonesia, the fifth company to go public in Indonesia this year. Lilis Mulyawati, Director of Duta Intidaya, said the book building process for the company's IPO is conducted between 31 May and 6 June 2016, while the offering period is set for 17-21 June. Listing on the IDX is scheduled for 28 June 2016.

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For sure Indonesia's financial system will be affected by the Federal Reserve's decision to implement another interest rate hike, and especially emerging market currencies - including the rupiah - are vulnerable to further monetary tightening in the world's top economy. Most analysts now believe a Fed Funds Rate (FFR) hike could occur in July 2016. In previous rounds of US monetary tightening (QE tapering and the December 2015 FFR hike) we witnessed large capital outflows from Indonesia. What will be the impact of another US interest rate hike on Indonesia?

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Indonesian shipping company Sillo Maritime Perdana, which provides offshore support vessels, plans to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The company set the indicative price for its IPO in the range of IDR 117-140 a piece. By issuing 600 million new shares, or 23.08 percent of its enlarged share capital, Sillo Maritime Perdana targets to collect roughly IDR 77 billion (approx. USD $5.7 million) in funds from the IPO. Lautandhana Securindo and UOB Kay Hian Securities were appointed as underwriters for the IPO.

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State-owned cement producer Semen Baturaja invites investors to its initial public offering (IPO) between 29 May and 7 June 2013 at the Ritz Carlton Pacific Place in Jakarta. Through this IPO, the company offers 2.34 billion shares (about 23.76 percent of its stock equity) to the public with an initial price target of IDR 500 - 685 per share (USD $0.05 - $0.07). Semen Baturaja will be listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) on 28 June 2013. The lead underwriters for this IPO are Bahana Securities, Danareksa Securities and Mandiri Securities.

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Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday (30/05). Particularly Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) was negatively influenced by Wednesday's falling stock indices in Europe and the USA. In this context, Indonesia's main index (IHSG) was hit as well and fell 1.37 percent to 5,129.65 points. Moreover, the continuing decline of the IDR rupiah makes market participants less enthusiastic to purchase Indonesian stocks. Foreigners were also anxious to sell part of their stock portfolios.

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Although the stock markets of the USA and England were closed on Monday (27/05), strong European and Asian indices indicated that market participants were back in business. This also applied to the main stock index of Indonesia (IHSG), which regained the points it had lost on Monday. A number of blue-chips were chased by investors: Astra International, Unilever Indonesia, Lippo Cikarang and Semen Indonesia. Foreigners were particularly interested in stocks of Bank Mandiri, Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa, and Waskita Karya.

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The weak stock indices in Europe and USA at the end of last week had a negative impact on stock indices in Asia on Monday (27/05/13), including Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG). Investors rushed to reduce their stock portfolios, which resulted in an 1.36 percent fall to 5,085.14 points. At the end of last week, the IHSG had formed a green candlestick but today there were no continued positive signals as the market lacked positive sentiments. But a number of rising Asian indices and the positive openings of European stock indices managed to support the IHSG a bit.

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Throughout the month of May, the level of volatility of Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) has been remarkable and interesting. At the start of the month we were shocked by Standard & Poor's downgrade of Indonesia's credit rating outlook as well as Moody's warning to take similar measures as Indonesia had been slow to deal with its subsidized fuel policy. These issues were able to drag the index down. Moreover, the threat of higher inflation triggers concerns that the index would show its traditional fall in the month of May.

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Various negative sentiments made investors decide to engage in profit taking today (23/05). As Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) had already reached the overbought area, it is highly susceptible of profit taking in case some negative news is released. But this time there were quite a lot of matters that made a negative impact: weak American indices on Wednesday (22/05) responding to the FOMC meeting, a spike in Japan's government bond yields, and Chinese manufacturing data that seems to indicate a contraction.

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American stock indices that refrained from staying in the green zone at the end of Monday's trading session (20/05/13) made market participants less enthusiastic to invest in Asian stocks. Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) was one of the indices that felt this impact as a lack of positive sentiments blocked it from rising to another record high level. Investors were also concerned about profit taking because the index had reached the overbought level. When European indices opened weak on Tuesday it increased downward pressures on the IHSG.

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Various reasons explain why Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) managed to reach another record high on Monday (20/05/13) at 5,214.98 points, an 1.35 percent gain. Foreigners were back chasing Indonesian stocks (particularly blue chips), Asian indices were up (led by Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index), the listing of Bank Nationalnobu (NOBU) which gained 14.67 percent on its first trading day, positive European openings, and the positive response towards Indonesia's new Finance minister, Chatib Basri, regarded as an independent policy maker.

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Last week, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) moved remarkably well. The index managed to set a new record high at 5145.68 points on Friday (17/05/13) as it was pushed up by its strongest pillar of support, the consumer sector. Indonesia's consumer sector rose as much as 8.23 percent last week, while the largest obstacle to growth was the country's mining sector, which experienced a correction of 3.31 percent. What are the underlying reasons of last week's gain towards yet another record high? And is it sustainable?

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The pace of the upward movement of Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) was beyond expectation. While American and European stock indices were weak on Thursday (16/05/13) and Hong Kong's HSI as well as South Korea's KOSPI were closed due to holidays, it did not bring a negative impact on the IHSG. Particularly consumer and coal miner stocks supported the IHSG's rise. At the end of Friday's trading day (17/05/13), the IHSG hit a new record high level: 5,154.68 points, an 1.32 percent increase.

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