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.
Asian stocks are mixed on Tuesday morning (16/05). Positive sentiments are brought about by the rising crude oil price and the positive performance of US stocks overnight. However, there is also some concern about the global WannaCry "ransomware" cyber attack that may be linked to North Korea, while the latest data from China confirm that China's growth momentum continues to moderate.
Starting from March 5, 2018, Indonesian citizens as well as foreigners need to be a bit more careful when bringing foreign-denominated cash money into Indonesia. A new Bank Indonesia regulation sets a IDR 1 billion (approx. USD $75,000) ceiling on the total amount of foreign cash money an individual can bring into Indonesia.
A large chunk of the costs for the development of Indonesia's first high-speed railway - between the capital city of Jakarta and Bandung - is covered now a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese companies signed a USD $4.5 billion loan with the China Development Bank. This loan should cover about 75 percent of the total (estimated) costs to develop this railway. In 2015 the Indonesian government, rather unexpectedly, awarded the contract for this project to China, sidestepping Japan that thought it would be appointed to establish this railway.
Based on the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), released on Monday morning (15/05), Indonesia's export and import performance in April 2017 slightly weakened compared to the performance in the preceding month but remains in much better shape than it was in April one year ago. The nation's April trade surplus is USD $1.24 billion, smaller than the revised USD $1.39 billion surplus in the preceding month but still exceeding analysts' forecasts.
