On the first trading day after the terrorist attacks in Paris (leaving 129 people dead and hundreds injured), stocks declined in Asia as investors are cautious. Although markets had one weekend to digest the news, it is still expected that the tragedy in Paris will cause a sharp yet short-term impact on global equity markets. Apart from terrorism, volatile oil prices as well as concern about China's economy and uncertainty about the timing of a US interest rate hike continue to plague markets.

Read more ›

Asian shares are facing pressures on Friday (13/11) due to lower oil prices and increasing expectation that the US Federal Reserve will raise its key Fed Fund Rate by 25 basis points in December. Resource stocks are dragging down stock indices in Australia, Hong Kong and China by more than one percent. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index, however, is bucking the trend in Asia, having risen 0.51 percent to 4,485.12 points by 10:20 am local Jakarta time amid red indices in Asia. Meanwhile, the US dollar is strengthening against Asian currencies but not as sharply as initially predicted.

Read more ›

Shares in Asia are expected to be under some pressure today as crude oil prices slid 2.9 percent overnight after the American Petroleum Institute released a report that stated US supplies grew unexpectedly by 6.3 million barrels. Other commodity prices were also down after the release of downbeat industrial output data from China on Wednesday. However, with China's positive October retail sales (posting the strongest gain of the year) there are few chances of seeing new massive stimulus from Chinese authorities. As such 'bad news' is no 'good news'.

Read more ›

Most Asian stock indices opened lower on the first trading day of the week on persistent concern about China's economy. Chinese authorities announced that the country's official October manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was 49.8 (a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction), unchanged from the preceding month and below analysts' consensus of 50.1. Concern about sluggish manufacturing in China caused falling stock indices. Japanese shares were affected the most.

Read more ›

Most analysts expected that Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) would be plagued by another selloff on Tuesday (25/08) as the major stock indices in the USA and Europe plunged yesterday, while commodity prices hit new lows (crude oil fell below USD $40 per barrel for the first time since 2009). Moreover, Shanghai and Japan opened in the red. However, reality proves differently. Around 11:25 am local Jakarta time the Jakarta Composite Index was up 1.77 percent to 4,237.28 points.

Read more ›

Indonesian stocks fell sharply after the market opened on Monday (27/04). Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index had dropped 2.61 percent to 5,293.73 points by 12:00 local Jakarta time. This poor performance is most likely due to market participants wait & see attitude before the release of Indonesia’s Q1-2015 GDP growth figure (to be released at the start of May) and the release of Indonesian companies’ Q1-2015 financial earnings reports. Moreover, Indonesia will soon execute several foreign convicted drug traffickers.

Read more ›

The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.14 percent to IDR 11,665 per US dollar on Tuesday (25/02) based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. The currency's depreciation was due to US dollar demand from Indonesian importers while offshore funds engaged in profit taking as the rupiah is the best performer in February 2014 among 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg (against both the euro and US dollar). The rupiah is also the best-performing Asian currency this year so far.

Read more ›

The central bank of the United States, the Federal Reserve (FED), announced that it will start winding down its quantitative easing program in January 2014. Currently, the Fed purchases USD $85 billion worth of bonds per month but this amount will be reduced to USD $75 billion next month. The Fed came to this decision as prospects of the US labor market have shown a marked improvement, while economic growth is expected to accelerate to between 2.8 and 3.2 percent in 2014 and between 3.0 to 3.4 percent in 2015.

Read more ›

Exports of China in August 2013 surpassed expectations and provides hope that the world's second largest economy is resuming its admirable growth. Overseas shipments were reported to have grown 7.2 percent year-on-year, while analysts expected a 5.5 percent growth rate. In July, China's exports had already recorded a 5.1 percent growth compared to the same month in 2012. On the other hand, imports in China grew slower than had been forecast at 7 percent (YoY). The country's trade surplus reached over USD $28 billion.

Read more ›

Both China's imports and exports in July 2013 showed a rebound as they increased above expectation. Exports of the world's second-largest economy rose 5.1 percent (YoY), while imports surged 10.9 percent (which suggest improving domestic consumption). These results led to most Asian markets being up on Thursday (08/08). China's economy has been slowing down amid weak global demand and efforts to avert a credit boom. In 2012, the country's economy expanded 7.8 percent, the slowest pace in 23 years.

Read more ›

After continuously reaching new record-high levels last week, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) finally had to give up some of its gain and closed 1.04 percent lower. Declining Asian stock markets (excluding Japan's main index) and fears that the IHSG had already reached a (too) high level impacted on today's result. Market participants, who recently confirmed good corporate annual results of many companies by buying, now engaged in profit taking.

Read more ›

Today, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) reached yet another new record high as most market participants used the current positive market sentiments to maintain their stock portfolios, although part of the investors also took the chance to engage in profit taking. Most Asian stock markets gained significantly which was followed by positive openings of European stock indices. Both developments impacted heavily on the IHSG.

Read more ›

On Tuesday's trading day, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) was not able to maintain its record breaking upward movement. China's possible decision to limit credit growth in the property sector and the election in Italy contributed significantly to the decline of the IHSG. Moreover, it was influenced by poor openings of European stock markets. Investors thus decided to engage in profit taking, while waiting for further global developments.

Read more ›

The combination of the downgrade of Britain's government bond rating to AA1, China's plan to limit its property growth, and a decline in the HSBC Manufacturing PMI, was not able to block the growth of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) today. In particular the purchase appetite of foreign investors made the index move to a new record high. Positive openings of European stock markets also provided a boost for the IHSG.

Read more ›

Despite a good opening, weakening Asian stock markets dragged the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) downwards in today's trading day. At the start of the day, market participants may have hoped that Indonesia's main indicator would gain again, but a low trade volume turned it negative. Moreover, investors seem to wait for the result of Bumi Plc's shareholders meeting, and the negative opening of European stock indices contributed to the decline.

Read more ›

Today, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) had to give up its upward movement. Indonesia's main indicator, that moved in the red zone during the whole day, was affected by profit taking, and although on previous occasions the index successfully passed beyond the forming of a 'shooting star', today it failed. Its movement further away from the upper bollinger band led to the assumption that the IHSG will test its next support level.

Read more ›

Although the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) was moving in the red zone for a while during today's trading day, in the end it recorded a small gain. Most other Asian stock indices, except for Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Shanghai, went up as well. High expectations about continued IHSG-growth, strong corporate results of companies, and continued robust foreign demand for Indonesian stocks pushed the index up.

Read more ›

A surge in plantation, consumer, infrastructure and financial stocks has pushed the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) higher up the path of record-breaking highs on Friday, despite mixed Asian stock markets and a weak opening of European stock indices. Moreover, continued reports about good corporate results of listed companies convinced market participants to engage in trading, despite an already overbought market.

Read more ›

Rising Asian stock markets, particularly a strong Hang Seng (Hong Kong) that opened today after the Chinese new year celebrations, had a positive impact on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG). As had happened in previous years, the IHSG has the tendency to gain ahead of Valentine's day. Today, market participants received their special Valentine's gift: a new record-high IHSG level of 4601.95, although in the end it had to close a bit lower.

Read more ›

The upward movement of American and European stock indices yesterday, brought on due to positive internal sentiments in both regions, provided good support for Asian stock markets today. Apart from foreign influences, Asian stock markets were also supported by company reports that showed good corporate results in 2012. As such, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) also joined the green wave of Asian stock markets, and set a new record high.

Read more ›