The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, or IHSG) may reach a new record high level this week after market favourite Joko Widodo - popularly known as Jokowi - was officially announced the winner of the 2014 presidential election by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Tuesday (22/07). Not unimportantly, the final decision was not accompanied by any riots or social unrest Jakarta or other parts of the Archipelago, thus giving investors some more peace of mind regarding the stability of Indonesian assets.

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The performance of the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and stocks has been impacted by defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s withdrawal from the General Elections Commission’s electoral process on Tuesday (22/07). Although the Commission (KPU) has not publicly announced the outcome of the 2014 presidential election yet, Subianto’s response is a clear sign that rival Joko Widodo - as expected - has won the election. Subianto claims that the KPU is corrupt and will challenge the outcome in the Constitutional Court.

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Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will end his second and final five-year term in October 2014, announced to meet both presidential candidates (Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo) in the country’s State Palace on Sunday (20/07). In this meeting, president Yudhoyono will emphasize the importance of a peaceful and orderly transition to the next government. Currently, it remains unknown who of the two candidates won the presidential election (held on 9 July 2014). Due to the tight race, chances of social unrest increase.

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The four largest privately-held Indonesian conglomerates that have assets listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) are the Astra Group, Salim Group, Lippo Group, and Sinar Mas Group. Combined, all listed companies controlled by these four groups account for 17.50 percent of total market capitalization on the IDX (total market capitalization on the IDX was IDR 5,027.27 trillion or USD $430 billion on 15 July 2014). Currently, the largest listed firm on the IDX is Astra International, the ‘vehicle’ of the Astra Group.

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After the companies Sitara Propertindo and Bank Dinar Indonesia were listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) on Friday (11/07), the total number of listed Indonesian companies has now reached 502. This year so far, there have been 18 Indonesian companies that conducted an initial public offering (IPO) on the IDX. Ito Warsito, General Director of the IDX, said that he is optimistic that this year’s target of 30 newly listed Indonesian companies will be achieved by the year-end.

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After a trading week that was characterized by high gains in the stock and financial markets on optimism that Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will become the next president of Indonesia, both the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell today (11/07). This seems an obvious sign that the euphoria about a Jokowi win has waned and investors are looking again to the true economic fundamentals of Southeast Asia’s largest economy. By 13:00 pm local Jakarta time, the Jakarta Composite Index had fallen 1.66 percent.

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Although not all quick count scores indicate a Joko Widodo (Jokowi) win, Indonesia’s stock and financial markets have gained considerably on Thursday (10/07) - one day after the 2014 Indonesian presidential election - on speculation that the General Elections Commission (KPU) will declare Jokowi the winner of the election on 22 July 2014. Out a total of 12 quick counts (mentioned below), eight showed a Jokowi win. Importantly, these seven quick counts include the authoritative agencies that traditionally have been highly accurate.

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The recently launched Investor33 Index has outperformed both the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG), which contains all stocks that are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, and the LQ45 Index, a stock index which contains 45 Indonesian listed companies that fulfil certain criteria. In the first six months of 2014, the Investor33 Index climbed 16.36 percent, whereas the IHSG increased 14.14 percent and the LQ45 Index 15.68 percent.

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Bank Dinar Indonesia announced to set its share price at IDR 110 per share at the initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The company hopes to raise IDR 55 billion (USD $4.6 million) by offering 500 million new shares, or 22.22 percent of its enlarged capital, to the public. Approximately 75 percent of the proceeds will be used for credit disbursement expansion, while the remainder will be used to finance the establishment of nine new offices. Underwriter of the IPO is Andalan Artha Advisindo Sekuritas.

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Batavia Prosperindo Internasional, an Indonesian business and management consultancy services firm, set its share price in the range of IDR 450 to IDR 500 (roughly USD $0.04) for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (this price range is in line with the company’s price to earnings ratio at between 8.2 to 9.2 times). Through this corporate action the company will release 29.18 percent of its enlarged capital. General Director Rudi Setiadi said that the company intends to offer 150 million shares to the public.

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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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