The DBS Group Research expects that the coal price will remain in the range of USD $60 - $65 per metric ton in the second half of 2016. Given that coal demand from China remains bleak (as authorities are eager to meet environmental accords) chances are slim that the coal price can manage to go higher. For Indonesia, a country that - in terms of commodity exports - is highly dependent on coal and crude palm oil, it means challenges remain despite the recently sharply rebounding coal prices.

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Indonesia's ceramic industry has cut utilization of its total installed production capacity to the range of 30 - 50 percent, implying that ceramic manufacturers in Southeast Asia's largest economy are producing less than half of what they could produce. Low utilization of production capacity is the result of weakening ceramic sales over the past couple of years (mainly due to the sluggishly performing property sector of Indonesia). Some ceramic producers have slashed prices by up to 20 percent in a bid to boost sales and reduce stockpiles of ceramics at their warehouses.

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Those who invest in Indonesian stocks and the rupiah may prefer to remain in 'wait and see'-mode ahead of the US Federal Reserve's September two-day policy meeting (20-21 September). In the new trading week markets are again plagued by a very high degree of volatility due to changing perceptions regarding the Fed Funds Rate hike. On Monday (12/09), when Indonesian markets were closed for a public holiday, Asia experienced a major selloff, following Wall Street last Friday when US stocks plunged on fears of a looming (sooner-than-later) Fed rate hike.

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In line with Indonesia's promising e-commerce market - supported by rising Internet penetration, rising smartphone penetration and per capita GDP growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy - online shopping site MatahariMall.com has grown strongly since its launch a year ago. The online retailer, which celebrated its 1-year anniversary on Friday (09/09), sees its turnover grow by an average of 10 percent each month and already entered the top five of biggest e-commerce players in Indonesia (in the business-to-consumer category). However, exact (turnover) figures were not mentioned.

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