Since 07:00 am local time, Indonesians have been able to cast their votes for the country’s presidential election; a tight race between Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. Despite the narrow gap between both presidential candidates (based on various surveys), the election has been conducted in good order so far. The polling stations will close at 13:00 pm local time. Hereafter, live quick count scores, which are traditionally quite accurate, will be presented. By approximately 17:00 pm local time, the quick counts are expected to be finalized.

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The FIFA World Cup 2014, the world’s most prestigious football tournament (currently taking place in Brazil), boosts the textile and textile products industry of Indonesia. Local Indonesian companies have had to deal with a large increase of orders, particularly for apparel products. In the first six months of 2014, Indonesian exports of apparel products are expected to rise 15 percent to USD $3.5 billion. Between 10 and 15 percent of this total value involves exports of football jerseys of those teams that compete in the FIFA World Cup.

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Contrary to most Asian stock indices which were positively influenced by Japan’s higher economic growth as well as rising indices on Wall Street last Friday (06/06), the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) fell considerably on Monday (09/06). Not even the appreciating Indonesian rupiah exchange rate could push the index back into the green zone. At the end of Monday’s trading day, the Jakarta Composite Index declined 1.06 percent to 4,885.08 points.

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