Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines China

  • Indonesian Stocks & Rupiah Update: Ending a Weak Quarter on a High Note

    Most Asian stock markets were stronger on Wednesday, led by Japan's Nikkei 225 Index which rose 2.70 percent on expectation of further government stimulus measures. Meanwhile, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose 1.09 percent to 4,223.91 points supported by the region's rising stock indices as well as on the back of the second installment of Indonesia's economic policy package. Meanwhile, the rupiah appreciated 0.26 percent to IDR 14,653 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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  • Roller Coaster Ride Indonesian Stocks and Rupiah. What Happened Today?

    Indonesian stocks experienced a remarkable roller coaster ride on Tuesday (29/09). After opening the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell more than two percent to a near three-year low. However, the index managed to finish the trading day at 4,178.41 points, a 1.41 percent rise. Meanwhile, Indonesia's rupiah managed to curb losses. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah passed beyond the IDR 14,800 per US dollar level several times but at the end of the day it had only weakened 0.11 percent to IDR 14,691 per US dollar.

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  • Market Update Indonesia: Jakarta Composite Index Falls, Rupiah Appreciates

    Stock indices in Asia were mixed on the first trading day of the week. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index plunged 2.11 percent to 4,120.50 points (a two-year low), while the rupiah (remarkably) appreciated 0.13 percent to IDR 14,674 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Meanwhile, European markets were down after opening on Monday (28/09). What influenced these markets today?

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  • Indonesian Stocks & Rupiah Weakening on China & US Data

    After opening on Monday (28/09) Indonesian stocks rapidly fell amid mixed Asian markets. The main factor that causes several Asian markets to fall is declining Chinese industrial profits (triggering concern about a deepening slowdown of the world’s second-largest economy). China’s industrial profits fell 8.8 percent in August, down from July’s 2.9 percent drop. By 09:50 am local Jakarta time, the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index was down 1.41 percent to 4,150.27 points.

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  • Indonesia Stock Market & Rupiah News Update: What is Going on Today?

    In line with other Asian markets, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah are weakening heavily on Wednesday (23/09). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s rupiah had depreciated 0.71 percent to IDR 14,655 per US dollar by 11:08 am local Jakarta time, while the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index had fallen 1.56 percent to 4,276.43 points by the same time, with the financial sector in particular taking a hit. There are several causes that explain this weak performance today.

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  • Latest News Rupiah Indonesia: Why is It Weakening against the US Dollar Today?

    Today (22/09), the Indonesian rupiah extended its weak performance and has passed beyond the level of IDR 14,500 per US dollar. Most Asian currencies continue to fall against the greenback as uncertainty about the timing of higher US interest rates persists. Although the Federal Reserve decided to postpone a Fed Fund Rate hike at its September policy meeting, markets are still preparing for a hike before the year-end as many Federal Reserve objectives had been met.

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  • Indonesia Stock & Rupiah Update: Will the Federal Reserve Raise Interest Rates?

    While most Asian stock indices were mixed, Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose 0.69 percent to 4,390.37 points on Monday (14/09) with foreign investors recording a net buy of IDR 91.2 billion (approx. USD $6.5 million). Meanwhile, ahead of a crucial Federal Reserve meeting, the Indonesian rupiah depreciated 0.08 percent to IDR 14,333 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index.

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  • Stocks & Rupiah Update Indonesia: Asian Markets Down, No Impact Policy Package

    Indonesian stocks and the rupiah started weak on Thursday morning (10/09), the day after the Indonesian government unveiled its first economic policy package. In line with the trend in the whole region this morning, most (emerging market) assets in Asia are declining on weak Chinese and Japanese economic data. These weak data cause heightened concern about sluggish global economic growth.

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  • Indonesian Stocks & Rupiah Update: Asian Markets Start Strong on Wednesday

    Indonesian stocks and the rupiah started strong on Wednesday (09/09). Immediately after opening the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose over one percent to 4,366 points, while the rupiah appreciated 0.25 percent to IDR 14,244 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index) as these assets were supported by positive global sentiments after there had occurred a rally in most global equity markets on Tuesday (08/09).

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  • Indonesia Stock Market & Rupiah Update: What Happened in Asia Today?

    Most Asian stock markets finished lower on Monday (07/09) on persistent concern about the hard landing of China’s economy and the (related) selloff on European and US markets that occurred at the end of last week. Meanwhile, most Asian currencies depreciated (against the US dollar) after a US jobs report (released last Friday) could make the Federal Reserve decide to raise short-term interest rates later this month. All in all, investor sentiment remains fragile.

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Latest Columns China

  • Indonesia's Coal Price Soaring, Reason for Euphoria? Or Not?

    Indonesia's November 2016 coal price broke a record. The nation's benchmark thermal coal price (locally known as the Harga Batubara Acuan, HBA) - a monthly price set by Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and which is based on domestic and international coal indices - jumped 22.9 percent month-on-month (m/m) to USD $84.89 per metric ton this month, the highest monthly HBA price rise ever recorded. Compared to the start of the year, Indonesia's coal price has now risen 59.6 percent, the sixth straight monthly gain. But is this reason for euphoria?

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  • Financial Market Update Indonesia: What Happened Last Week?

    Many things happened this week. A devastating terror attack in Nice (France) killed at least 84 people, while - at the time of writing - a coup attempt occurred in Turkey (that seems to have failed). However, these events have little impact on the performance of global stocks and currencies (with the obvious exception of the Turkish lira). Wall Street touched record highs, while Indonesian stocks rose to a 13-month high and the Indonesian rupiah strengthened to a four-month high. Lets take a closer look at the performance of these markets over the past week.

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  • Indonesian Companies in Focus: Steel Pipe Industry of Indonesia

    Steel pipe and tube manufacturer Steel Pipe Industry of Indonesia (Spindo), which has the largest steel pipe production capacity among manufacturers in Indonesia, is expected to show solid corporate earnings in the period ahead as the company bought raw materials for its production process when the hot-rolled coil (HRC) price was near its lowest at USD $265 per ton. Investa Saran Mandiri expects that Spindo's earnings will improve markedly starting from the second quarter of 2016 as the HRC price has risen to USD $485 per ton in May 2016.

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  • PBOC Expects GDP Increase, In Spite Of Export Losses

    When we are looking at economic forecasts for potential growth prospects in Indonesia, it makes sense to have an idea of what is happening in the peripheral regions. China is still used as a firm indicator of where we are headed with emerging markets and here we will look at some of the reasons why the People's Bank of China's (PBOC) is still expecting growth even if potentially negative factors occur.

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  • Steel Price Rises but China and Other Steel Producing Nations Divided

    The price of steel has surged 20 percent to USD $365 per ton in April 2016 from USD $305 per ton at the start of the year. The primary reason for the higher steel price is China's plan to curtail the country's installed steel production capacity by a further 150 million tons over the next five years. In recent years the steel price has dropped significantly due to the global oversupply, mainly originating from the chronic steel oversupply in China where domestic demand declined amid the nation's economic slowdown.

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  • Expansion Alibaba to Indonesia to Cause Rising Trade Deficit with China?

    The USD $1 billion acquisition of Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform Lazada Group SA by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd may give rise to a larger flow of Chinese products into Indonesia. Lazada is an e-commerce platform that operates in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Southeast Asia is an interesting market for Alibaba as only 3 percent of retail sales are conducted online in this region, implying huge growth opportunities. Meanwhile, Alibaba has been eager to expand abroad as growth in China has been slowing.

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  • International Relations Indonesia-China: Illegal Fishing Case

    Indonesian Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said Indonesia could raise the (illegal) fishing dispute between Indonesia and China - that occurred near the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea over the weekend - at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea if China's authorities fail to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty over its sea territory. Last Saturday (19/03) a Chinese ship (Kway Fey 10078) was spotted fishing illegally within Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. Its crew was arrested and ship confiscated. However, two armed Chinese coast guard ships arrived to intervene.

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  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) Sees Indonesia's GDP Growth at 4.9%

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Indonesia's economy to expand 4.9 percent year-on-year (y/y) in 2016, slightly up from a 4.8 percentage point (y/y) growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015. On Tuesday (15/03) Luis Breuer, IMF Mission Chief for Indonesia, said the Washington-based lender projects limited growth (+0.1 percent) of Indonesia's private consumption this year. Regarding growth of investment and government spending in 2016, the IMF holds a more positive view. On the same day, the World Bank cut its forecast for Indonesia's 2016 GDP growth by 0.2 percent to 5.1 percent.

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  • Business Update Indonesia: BKPM Wants Desk for Chinese Investors

    In order to improve communication and avoid language barriers, the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) plans to open a special service desk for Chinese investors. BKPM, the investment services agency of the Indonesian government, sees language barriers between Chinese investors and Indonesians as a major obstacle; one that blocks foreign direct investment from China into Indonesia. The new desk, specifically for investment from China or Hong Kong, should improve communication hence improving realization of China's investment plans.

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  • Snapshot of the Indonesian Economy: Risks, Challenges & Development

    Tomorrow (05/02), Statistics Indonesia is scheduled to release Indonesia's official full-year 2015 economic growth figure. Nearly all analysts expect to see a figure that reflects the continuation of slowing economic growth. Southeast Asia's largest economy expanded 5.0 percent in 2014 and this is expected to have eased further to 4.7 percent or 4.8 percent in 2015 on the back of (interrelated) sluggish global growth, low commodity prices, and weak export performance. Domestically, Indonesia has or had to cope with high interest rates and inflation (hence curtailing people's purchasing power and consumption as well as business expansion).

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