Asian stocks are under heavy pressure on Wednesday (02/11) as the latest polls in the USA are suggesting that the US presidential race between market favorite Hillary Clinton and controversial candidate Donald Trump is closer than initially expected. Narrowing polls cause concern about future US economic policy after the election on 8 November 2016. Earlier, Trump expressed criticism on the Federal Reserve, claiming that the US central bank is engaged in politics by maintaining the loose monetary policy.

Lanjut baca ›

Again concerns about Indonesia's manufacturing sector flared up after it was reported this morning that the Nikkei Indonesia manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) declined to a reading of 48.7 in October 2016 (dropping significantly from 50.9 in September). It was the first time since July 2016 that Indonesia's manufacturing PMI contracted (a reading below 50.0 signals contraction). Employment, new orders as well as output all contracted in October, while pre-production stocks rose (slightly).

Lanjut baca ›

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that inflation in Indonesia was recorded at 0.14 percent month-on-month (m/m) in October 2016, slightly higher than had been expected by analysts but lower compared to the 0.22 percent (m/m) of inflation that was reported in the preceding month. Meanwhile, on an annual basis (y/y), Indonesia's inflation rate accelerated to a seasonally adjusted 3.31 percent (y/y) in October, from 3.07 percent (y/y) in the preceding month.

Lanjut baca ›

The government of Indonesia offers a new incentive to entrepreneurs in Indonesia's footwear and textile (and textile products) sectors who employ at least 2,000 workers and export 50 percent of their total sales. Authorities give a 50 percent discount on income tax to those workers that earn a maximum IDR 50 million (approx. USD $3,850) per year. Both Indonesia's footwear and textile sectors have been plagued in recent years by slowing economic growth, the weak rupiah and rising minimum wages.

Lanjut baca ›