Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines China

  • Stock Market Update Indonesia: What Makes Markets Move Today?

    Most stocks in Asia were in the red zone on Wednesday morning (21/06) as oil entered bear territory after prices continued to tumble (with Brent at seven-month lows) due to rising oil output in Libya and Nigeria. Meanwhile, Chinese shares seem to enjoy limited support only from the decision of US index provider MSCI to add China's mainland stocks to one of its key benchmarks.

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  • Commodity Watch Indonesia: Coal Price Expected to Rise

    The coal price is expected to rise in the remainder of this year as China seems eager to limit domestic coal output, while global coal demand is predicted to rise in the second half of 2017. After a steep decline in May, coal prices have been recovering in June. So far this month, coal prices rallied around 10 percent to slightly above USD $80 per ton (Newcastle index, July contracts).

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  • How Many Islands Does Indonesia Have? Government to Count

    Indonesia is known as the world's largest archipelago. However, local authorities do not exactly know how many islands Indonesia actually has. Back in 1996 the central government made a rough estimate of 17,500. However, rising concerns about illegal fishery and radical Islam as well as growth of protectionism (the battle for natural resources) has made the Indonesian government eager to turn the rough estimate into precise knowledge. However, this will not be an easy undertaking.

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  • Mining in Indonesia: Coal Price to Remain Stable on China Policies

    Despite seeing a supply surplus in Asia, coal prices are expected to remain stable in the foreseeable future supported by expectations of Chinese intervention into domestic coal production. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal and therefore the main determinant of the coal price. On Friday (19/05), the Newcastle coal index (May 2017 contracts) rose 0.27 percent to USD $74.25 per ton.

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  • Footwear Imports into Indonesia Surge High in Q1-2017

    Players in Indonesia's footwear industry are concerned about the sharp growth of imports of footwear (shoe) products into Indonesia, by far outpacing growth of footwear exports. Data released by the Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo) show footwear imports into Indonesia rose 17 percent year-on-year (y/y) in 2016, while over the past two years exports of footwear products were recorded in the range of 3 - 4 percent (y/y).

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  • Stock Market Update: Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Hits New Record

    Indonesian stocks continue to expand into record high territory. On Wednesday (05/04) Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.45 percent to close at 5,676.98 points, a fresh new record high position. Indonesia's main stock index is currently "hot" due to several internal and external factors. However, a new report released by Morgan Stanley may make investors a bit cautious as valuations for Indonesian stocks have been rising sharply recently.

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  • Deindustrialization in Indonesia's Ceramic Industry due to ACFTA?

    Elisa Sinaga, Chairman of the Indonesian Ceramic Industry Association (ASAKI), is concerned about the zero percent import duty policy (applied per 2018) for Chinese ceramics that are shipped into Indonesia. This policy could lead to massive ceramic imports from China and encourage the deindustrialization in Indonesia's ceramic sector.

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  • Trump's Trade Policies Positive for Indonesia's Footwear Industry?

    Indonesia's exports of footwear to the United States (USA) are expected to reach the value of USD $1.5 billion in 2017, up 12 percent year-on-year (y/y) from USD $1.34 billion last year. This increase is expected to come on the back of US President Donald Trump's eagerness to limit imports from China by introducing higher tariffs. This policy should now open up opportunities for Indonesian footwear exporters.

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  • After Yellen Speech Markets Are Preparing for March Rate Hike

    After Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech late last week, markets are increasingly expecting to see a US interest rate hike this month. In her speech in Chicago on Friday (03/03), Yellen said the Fed will adjust its monetary policy (specifically the fed funds rate) in case US employment and inflation continue to evolve in line with the Fed's expectations. The next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is scheduled for 14-15 March 2017 and therefore it is believed only disastrous US labor market data can block an interest rate hike this month.

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  • IMF Upbeat on Indonesia's Growing Economy, Consumption & Reforms

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is optimistic about economic growth of Indonesia in the foreseeable future. In its latest report the Washington-based institution says Indonesia's solid economic policies and increased household consumption support strong growth. The stronger rupiah and low inflation have caused people's purchasing power to strengthen. This is a major positive boost for the economy as household consumption accounts for more than 55 percent of total economic growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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Latest Columns China

  • Indonesia's Transition Year of 2015; Slowing GDP Growth & State Spending

    Indonesian Finance Minister Chatib Basri said that the country's economic growth in 2015 is targeted in the range of 5.5 to 6.3 percent. Amid further Federal Reserve tapering and possible interest rate hikes in the world's largest economy, chances of capital outflows from emerging markets (including Indonesia) are becoming larger. Basri said that these global conditions impact on GDP growth, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and inflation. Therefore, 2015 is a transition year, reflected by tighter economic projections and state spending.

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  • Profit Taking after Long Rally Causes Indonesian Stocks to Decline 10%

    After having recorded a five-day winning streak, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) fell 0.10 percent to 4,892.29 points on Monday (21/04). The forming of a doji star and limited movement of the IHSG (due to reduced buying volume) implied that - without the publication of good news triggering positive market sentiments - the index would decline. Today's depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and mixed Asian indices were reasons for investors to engage in profit taking.

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  • Small Gain for Indonesian Stocks despite Weak China GDP Growth

    Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as the IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) posted another small gain on Wednesday (16/04), thus extending its winning streak to four days. The index gained 0.06 percent to 4,873.01 points. Despite slowing GDP growth in China, a depreciating rupiah exchange rate (responding to slightly higher US chain store sales and expected higher US building permits as well as US manufacturing production) and foreign investors recording a net sell, the index stayed in the green zone.

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  • Most Emerging Asian Currencies Down on China's Slowing GDP Growth

    The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate moved within limited range on Wednesday. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the currency depreciated 0.07 percent to IDR 11,436 per US dollar. Since Thursday (10/04), the rupiah has had to cope with pressures as Indonesia's legislative election was unable to provide political certainty. On the other hand, the country's improved economic fundamentals - easing inflation and the narrowing current account deficit - have resulted in capital inflows, thus supporting the rupiah.

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  • Indonesian Rupiah Exchange Rate Up Ahead of Parliamentary Election

    Most emerging market currencies, including the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate, appreciated against the US dollar on Tuesday (08/04) due to carry trade (meaning the selling of low-yield currencies for higher-yielding assets) and expected stimulus from China's government to boost its economy (Chinese shares in fact gained 2.2 percent on this stimulus speculation). The rupiah appreciated 0.14 percent to IDR 11,289 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, partly due to variety of domestic factors.

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  • World Bank: East Asian Economies Expected to Grow Stably in 2014

    According to the latest East Asia Pacific Economic Update - the World Bank’s comprehensive review of the region’s economies which was released today (07/04) - developing countries in the East Asia Pacific region will see stable economic growth this year, bolstered by a recovery in high-income economies and the market’s modest response so far to the Federal Reserve’s tapering of its quantitative easing. Developing East Asia will grow by 7.1 percent this year, largely unchanged from 2013.

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  • Benchmark Stock Index of Indonesia Jumps 1.30% on Monday

    Despite various negative sentiments, Indonesia's benchmark stock index was able to post a 1.30 percent gain to 4,921.04 points on Monday (07/04). Due to last week's weak March US monthly jobs report, falling indices on Wall Street on Friday (04/04) impacted negatively on Asian indices today. On the domestic side, negative market sentiments were caused by the government's plan to raise royalties for coal miners working under a Mining Business License (IUP) to 10-13.5 percent as well as a luxury tax on cars and telecommunication gadgets.

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  • Positive Domestic Data Support Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index

    Previously we advised investors to be careful because various economic data that was to be released - both international and domestic - could reveal negative results and thus put great pressure on the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) on Tuesday (01/04). However, the data, particularly domestic data, were positive and made the IHSG jump 2.22 percent one day after the holiday on Monday (Nyepi or Hindu New Year). Investors used this context to purchase stocks, especially Indonesia's big cap stocks.

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  • Indonesian Rupiah and IHSG Strengthen on Yellen and Domestic Data

    At 15:00 local Jakarta time on Tuesday (01/04), the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate as well as the country's benchmark stock index (known as the IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) have shown a positive performance so far. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah appreciated 0.64 percent to IDR 11,288 per US dollar, while the IHSG climbed 2.15 percent to 4,871.38. A number of internal and external factors contributed to this remarkable performance today.

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  • A Strong End of the Week for the Indonesian Rupiah Exchange Rate

    By the end of Friday's trading day (28/03), the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated 0.75 percent to IDR 11,361 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. At the end of March 2014, the rupiah is still the best-performing Asian currency this year, outperforming 24 emerging-market currencies that are tracked by Bloomberg. Since 31 December 2013, the rupiah appreciated nearly seven percent against the US dollar as an easing current account deficit and slowing inflation triggered capital inflows into Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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