According to the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), wealth disparity has narrowed slightly in Indonesia, reflected by a declining Gini ratio from 0.408 in March 2015 to 0.397 in March 2016 (zero represents perfect equality, while 1 represents perfect inequality). This development is attributed to several matters, including rising earnings among Indonesia's middle-income segment. BPS noted that this increase comes on the back of government-led labor-intensive infrastructure development projects.

Lanjut baca ›

A new online information service - "Go Public" - has now been launched by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in five cities - Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), Bandung (West Java), Semarang (Central Java) and Medan (North Sumatra) - in an effort to inform privately-held companies about the advantages of listing on the IDX through an initial public offering (IPO). Tito Sulistio, General Director of the IDX, informed that one matter that blocks companies from undertaking an IPO is that this corporate move is believed to be complicated, costly, and time-consuming.

Lanjut baca ›

After six years of steady decline, the Indonesian rupiah is likely to have appreciated against the US dollar at the end of 2016. So far this year, the currency of Indonesia has appreciated 4.8 percent to IDR 13,126 against the greenback (Bloomberg Dollar Index) supported by capital inflows, particularly into government bonds and stocks as well as the delay in further monetary tightening in the USA. Although the rupiah should depreciate a bit as we go towards the end of the year, it is set to finish the year at a stronger level than it started.

Lanjut baca ›

Amid mixed Asian stock markets, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) surged a whopping 1.67 percent on Thursday (18/08), one day after Indonesian markets were closed for Independence Day celebrations. Investors' risk appetite improved markedly after the Federal Reserves' July minutes signaled that it will still take a while before the US central bank is ready to implement another interest rate hike. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government proposed a realistic 2017 State Budget to the nation's House of Representatives.

Lanjut baca ›