The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a daily updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines will cover political, economic and social matters. As a consequence of their recent nature, these topics may not have crystallized fully yet and can, therefore, lack a profound analysis. For publications with a more in-depth understanding of subjects, we refer you to our News, Financial or Business columns.
Foreign visitor arrivals in Indonesia showed good growth in February 2018. Based on the latest data of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), a total of 1.2 million foreigners entered Indonesia for a short visit in the second month of 2018. This constitutes a 9.1 percent increase compared to the preceding month and a 17.4 percent increase compared to February one year ago.
Two companies are ready to conduct their initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the second quarter of 2018. Firstly, Sarimelati Kencana, the operator of Pizza Hut Indonesia, is set to offer a 20 percent stake to the public in May 2018. Secondly, Sriwahana Adityakarta, a company that produces carton boxes, paper cones, and paper tubes, will offer a 22 percent stake to the public in June 2018.
Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK), the government agency that regulates and supervises the country's financial services sector, may allow the plan of Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) to acquire a 73.8 percent stake in Indonesian financial institution Bank Danamon Indonesia through subsidiary The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd (BTMU).
Despite the selloff on Wall Street overnight where the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 1.9 percent, the S&P 500 tumbled 2.23 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.74 percent, losses in Asia were less severe on Tuesday morning (03/04) as these losses were kept below 1 percent, overall. The selloff on Wall Street, partially driven by a sell-off of tech industry giants, was the weakest start of the second quarter for US shares since the Great Depression.
