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.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) left its benchmark interest rate (the BI 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate) unchanged at 5.75 percent at the October 2018 policy meeting (22-23 October). Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility rates were kept at 5.00 percent and 6.50 percent, respectively.
The local government of West Java said it is currently busy compiling all data related to the Lippo Group's ambitious Meikarta project. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said thorough investigation will then be done - based on the data - to decide whether the grand property project can resume or whether there are matters that need to be fixed.
Indonesia's biggest banks seem to have done good business in the third quarter of 2018. After the positive Q3-2018 corporate earnings of Bank Mandiri that were released earlier this week, another major bank in Indonesia - Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) - now shows similar positive numbers.
Bank Mandiri, one of the biggest financial institutions in Indonesia and the sixth-largest company that is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (in terms of market capitalization), saw its net profit rise 20 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 18.1 trillion (approx. USD $1.2 billion) up to and including the third quarter of 2018.
