• Indonesia Stock Market & Rupiah Update: Asian Markets in the Red

    It was a bad start of the new trading week. Stocks in Asia were deep in the red due to risk aversion, falling the most in four weeks amid concern about the "Brexit" referendum, uncertainty before this week's central bank meetings in the USA and Japan, falling crude oil prices, and the worst mass shooting in modern US history. Indonesia was among the affected markets; the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.84 percent to 4,807.23 on Monday (13/06), while the rupiah only depreciated slightly to IDR 13,298 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

    Read more ›

  • Indonesia's Food & Beverage Industry Threatened by Sugar Shortage

    Several companies in Indonesia's food and beverage industry may need to cease production altogether as there is a shortage of sugar ahead of the Idul Fitri celebrations (which mark the end of the Ramadan month). Adhi Lukman, Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi), said there are at least ten companies that are in direct need of new sugar supplies for their production process. Without new sugar supplies, the factories will simply need to be shut down temporarily.

    Read more ›

  • Forest Fires & Haze: Singapore Eager to Prosecute Indonesians

    Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated that he does not agree with Singapore's attempts to take legal action against those Indonesian individuals and companies that are responsible for the forest fires on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan that resulted in the severe haze that spread to Singapore (and other parts of Southeast Asia) in 2015. The toxic smog caused economic costs in Indonesia's neighboring countries. Kalla said Indonesia will not support Singapore in this case as the offense occurred in Indonesia, not in Singapore. As such, it would be an attack on Indonesia's sovereignty.

    Read more ›

  • Consumer Price Index Update Indonesia: June Inflation to Exceed 1% m/m

    A survey, conducted by Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia, BI), indicates that Indonesian inflation has risen 0.59 percent in the first week of June 2016, implying that there is a big chance that inflation will reach beyond the 1 percent (m/m) level in the full-month, perhaps even touching 2 percent (m/m). The main cause of inflationary pressures in Indonesia in this month is food prices. Amid Ramadan festivities - which boost demand for food items - prices of beef, chicken meat, cooking oil, eggs, onions, and chilies have risen.

    Read more ›