Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines China

  • Stock Market & Rupiah Indonesia: Sell-Off Continues

    The sell-off continued in Asia on Monday (11/01). Asia's stock indices - led by China's Shanghai Composite Index - fell deep into red territory. China's muted inflation in December, today's 5.33 percent plunge of the Shanghai Composite Index, sliding oil prices, and falling stocks on Wall Street last week (US stocks experienced their worst week in four years), made investors in search of safe haven assets such as gold, Japan's yen and the US dollar. Meanwhile, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.78 percent to 4,465.48 points.

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  • Indonesia Stock Market Update: Asia's Stocks in the Red, Global Selloff

    Stocks and currencies across Asia are under heavy pressure on Thursday (07/01) after China's central bank set its yuan rate 0.51 percent lower (at 6,5646 per US dollar). As a result, Chinese shares plunged over 7 percent (triggering the new circuit-breaking mechanism - for the second day this week - 30 minutes after trading opened today). Asian shares are also weak due to big losses in Europe and on Wall Street overnight. Markets reacted to the oil price that slid to a more-than-seven-year low at USD $33.97 per barrel.

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  • What is the Impact of China’s Economic Slowdown on Indonesia?

    Economic turmoil that has pushed China’s growth to a 25-year low has a direct effect on Indonesia as China is the key trading partner of Indonesia. Concern about China’s economic slowdown (and the impact of this slowdown on the world economy) persist in 2016 as the country's Caixin/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) contracted for the 10th straight month in December 2015 (at 48.2), while the services reading for December fell to a 17-month low (50.2).

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  • Contrary to Asian Trend Indonesian Stocks & Rupiah Rebound

    Although most stock markets in Asia were still in red territory, extending Monday's plunge, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah managed to rebound on Tuesday (05/01). Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose 0.70 percent to 4,557.82 points. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah appreciated 0.37 percent to IDR 13,892 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). What happened on today's trading day and what explains the deviation between Indonesian assets and the general Asian trend?

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  • Coal Mining Indonesia: Focus on Other Markets than China

    Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources expects coal shipments to India to rise in 2016, while coal exports to China are expected to decline further as the world's second-largest economy is experiencing a persistent slowdown (and China curbed imports of coal with a lower calorie grade). Adhi Wibowo, Director for Coal at the Energy Ministry, said - contrary to China - coal demand from India has not fallen. Moreover, India is highly dependent on Indonesia for its thermal coal.

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  • Why Did Indonesian Stocks and Rupiah Weaken Today?

    Contrary to expectations, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah had a weak start of the new year. On Monday (04/01) Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.46 percent to 4,525.92 points, while the Indonesian rupiah depreciated 0.82 percent to IDR 13,943 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). The performance of Indonesian stocks is in line with the performance of stocks around the globe. In China stock trading was even halted twice due to its plunging index. What happened today?

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  • Stock Market Indonesia: Prognosis Jakarta Composite Index in January

    Last year the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index) fell 12.13 percent to finish at 4,593.01 points on 30 December 2015 amid severe global uncertainty due to looming tighter monetary policy in the USA and the rapid economic slowdown of China. Today, the Indonesia Stock Exchange will have its first trading day of the new year. What do we expect from the performance of Indonesian stocks in January 2016?

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  • Indonesia Stock Market: What are the Picks in 2016?

    Although challenges persist, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) is estimated to rise in 2016, surpassing the level of 5,000 points. Last year the index fell 12.13 percent to close at 4,593.01 points. In particular Indonesia's infrastructure, banking, consumption, cement, property and construction sectors are expected to post a good performance this year on the back of accelerated domestic economic growth supported by government spending and the recent economic stimulus packages.

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  • Stock Market Indonesia: Performance Jakarta Composite Index in 2015

    The last trading day of 2015 on the Indonesia Stock Exchange has passed and now it is time to look back on the performance of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) and the rupiah during 2015. The year 2015 was a hectic year, characterized by volatile behavior due to uncertainty about the timing of the looming US interest rate hike (which was finally decided upon by the Federal Reserve in December 2015) and the economic slowdown of China.

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  • Currency Update: Why is Indonesia's Rupiah Rallying?

    The Indonesian rupiah continued its remarkable rally on Tuesday (22/12). The currency had appreciated 0.98 percent to IDR 13,672 per US dollar by 11:10 am local Jakarta time (Bloomberg Dollar Index). The rupiah has recovered from a recent low of IDR 14,123 on Monday 14 December to IDR 13,672 per US dollar, a 3.2 percentage point advance in about one week. There are several matters that explain this remarkable performance.

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Latest Columns China

  • Global Concern: Economy of China Slows to 7.3% in Q3-2014

    Economic expansion of China slowed to a growth pace of 7.3 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the third quarter of 2014, the slowest pace in five years. Although China’s Q3-2014 GDP growth result was better than most analysts’ projections of 7.2 percent, Chinese policy makers will face difficulties to achieve its 7.5 percent annual growth target for full-year 2014. Being one of the most important trading partners of Indonesia, slowing economic growth of China has a major impact on the export performance of Indonesia.

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  • Finance Minister Chatib Basri on Indonesia’s Economic Fundamentals

    Indonesian Finance Minister Chatib Basri said that the lower pace of economic growth in China, the world’s second-largest economy, is a major concern for Indonesia as it leads to declining demand for commodities (and thus places downward pressure on commodity prices). As Indonesia is a major commodity exporter - such as coal, crude palm oil, nickel ore and tin - the country feels the impact of weak global demand for commodities. About 60 percent of Indonesia’s exports are commodities, mostly raw ones.

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  • Despite Sharp Rupiah Depreciation, Indonesian Stocks Rise 0.18%

    The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) rose 0.18 percent to 5,142.01 points on Monday (29/09) despite the sharp depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate. Possibly market participants took advantage of relatively cheap blue chip stocks after the 1.3 percent drop on Friday (26/09) caused by negative market sentiments brought about by the parliament’s passing of a bill which abolishes direct voting of regional leaders. Foreign investors recorded net selling of IDR 542.4 billion.

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  • Stocks & Rupiah Update Indonesia: Performance Today

    Stocks & Rupiah Update Indonesia: Performance Today

    In line with the trend on other Asian stock indices, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) fell on Monday (22/09) amid profit taking after three days of gains. Not even the appreciating rupiah exchange rate and net buying of foreign investors (IDR 26.6 billion) were able to push Indonesia’s index into the green zone. The IHSG declined 0.15 percent to 5,219.80 points. All sectors on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) fell except for the consumer goods and finance sectors.

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  • Nickel Price Influenced by Export Bans of Indonesia and the Philippines

    The global nickel price declined 5.1 percent on Tuesday (09/09) after it became known that the Philippines would not implement a ban on exports of this commodity yet. Similar to Indonesia, the Philippines was preparing to implement a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals in an attempt to boost revenues (by exporting mining products with added value). However, it may take seven years before such a policy is implemented. This implies that the occurrence of a possible shortage of nickel on the global market in the coming years has diminished.

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  • Indonesian Stocks Rise Slightly on Speculation Chinese Monetary Easing

    Indonesian Stocks Rise Slightly on Speculation Chinese Monetary Easing

    The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) climbed slightly on Monday (18/08), not being impacted - as we feared earlier - by mixed stock indices on Wall Street and Europe on Friday (15/08). Increased speculation about widening Chinese monetary policy in the country’s property sector made a good impact on Asian stock indices, including Indonesia’s IHSG. At the end of the trading day, the IHSG had strengthened 0.15 percent to 5,156.75 points, also supported by the appreciating rupiah (Bank Indonesia’s mid-rate).

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  • Indonesian Stocks Decline but Rupiah Appreciates Slightly on Tuesday

    Weakening global stock indices meant that it would be difficult for the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) to continue its upward movement on Tuesday (05/08). Moreover, there were few positive sentiments originating from the Archipelago as Indonesia’s Q2-2014 GDP growth (+5.12 percent year-on-year) was below expectation and the country’s trade balance showed a deficit of USD $300 million in June 2014. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah exchange appreciated slightly.

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  • Narendra Modi’s Reforms: India at the Basis of a New Commodities Boom?

    Prestigious Hong Kong-based HSBC Bank claims that a new commodity boom may appear if India will boost investments in infrastructure and housing. Chances of increased spending in India have grown considerably after reform-minded Narendra Modi posted a victory in the May 2014 election. Economists at the HSBC Bank say that this may give rise to a new prolonged commodities boom as had occurred in the 2000s which - to a large extent - was triggered by accelerated economic growth in emerging economies, particularly China.

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  • How Did the Indonesian Rupiah and Stock Market Perform Last Week?

    Emerging currencies in Asia, led by the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate, strengthened in the past week on positive economic data from the US and China, the world’s two largest economies. Companies in the US added more jobs than expected in June 2014, while manufacturing in China grew at its fastest pace in 2014. Improving economies of the US and China are important for Asian countries as it boosts Asian exports. Moreover, Indonesian inflation and trade data contributed to positive market sentiments.

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  • China Concerns: What to Expect of the Global Copper Price in 2014?

    In the last 12 months, the international copper price showed a neutral movement (moving more or less sideways). This is particularly due to a number of issues in China, the world’s second largest economy, which impact negatively on the copper price movement. China has become such an important market for a variety of commodities, including copper (used in construction and electronics), that other countries can be considered almost irrelevant. Why do analysts have low expectations of the copper market for the remainder of 2014?

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