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.
After three straight sessions of decline, Indonesian stocks are again rebounding toward record high territory. In the first trading session on Tuesday (31/10) the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index climbed 0.57 percent to 6,008.14 points, just short of the all-time record high of 6,025.43 points that was touched last week. The consumer goods index, particularly, is supporting the rise of the overall index.
The rising coal price is a great boost for the corporate earnings of coal mining companies as well as the share prices of those companies that are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Newcastle Coal Futures (January 2018 delivery) touched USD $97.10 per metric ton at the end of last week, up 26 percent so far this year. Meanwhile, prices of energy commodities are expected to rise further in the remainder of the year.
Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) announced that total direct investment in Indonesia (foreign + domestic investment) reached IDR 176.6 trillion (approx. USD $13.2 billion using the IDR 13,400 per US dollar exchange rate as set in the revised 2017 state budget) in the third quarter of 2017, up 13.7 percent year-on-year (y/y) from the same quarter one year earlier.
Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani is optimistic that Indonesia's economic growth in 2018 can exceed the government target of 5.4 percent year-on-year (y/y) as set in the 2018 State Budget, which was approved by Indonesian parliament last week. Her optimism is based on an expected pickup in investment and exports next year.
