The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a regularly updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines 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.
While we have entered the last quarter of 2017, the coal price continues to climb. Indonesia's benchmark coal price (in Indonesian: Harga Batubara Acuan, or HBA) rose 2.13 percent month-on-month (m/m) to USD $93.99 per metric ton in October 2017. The average HBA price so far in 2017 stands at USD $84.22 per ton, up significantly from an average of USD $61.84 per ton in full-year 2016.
The Indonesian government is preparing two locations - Kendal (Central Java) and Gresik (East Java) - as alternatives for the automotive manufacturing industry in Indonesia. Currently, West Java (specifically Karawang) is the nation's car manufacturing hub where most carmakers establish their manufacturing facilities.
The Indonesian rupiah appreciated slightly - by 0.09 percent - to IDR 13,464 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index) on Thursday (05/10), bucking the trend in Asia where most emerging market currencies weakened amid US dollar strength as US economic data showed that the US service sector grew at its fastest pace in 12 years in September 2017.
Pelita Samudera Shipping, a leading company in Indonesia's offshore transshipment market, will list on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in November 2017. The company, which uses its June 2017 corporate earnings report for this corporate move, will offer a 20 percent stake to the public through this initial public offering (IPO).
