Asian shares are under pressure on Friday morning (07/07) due to declines on Wall Street overnight. These declines were caused by the ADP jobs report, released on Thursday (06/07), that missed estimates as well as by rising tensions surrounding North Korea's ballistic missile tests and a tech sell-off. Meanwhile, global sovereign debt yields rose on expectation that the European Central Bank (ECB) is moving closer toward unwinding its massive monetary stimulus.

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On Thursday (06/07) Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index advanced 0.42 percent to 5,849.58 points amid mixed Asian markets. Indonesian stocks are now again approaching the record high level that was set earlier this week. Local Indonesian securities companies are confident to see the benchmark index of Indonesia rising further in the remainder of the year, passing beyond the 6,000 level. Which Indonesian stocks do these companies recommend?

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After the week-long holiday Indonesian stocks made an impressive return on Monday (03/07). Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index surged 1.38 percent to 5,910.24 points, another record high position, led by financial and telecommunication stocks. Investors were in the mood to buy Indonesian shares after the long holiday. Moreover, positive Chinese economic data and Indonesia's easing core inflation provided more reasons for investor appetite.

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Most stocks in Asia were in the red zone on Wednesday morning (21/06) as oil entered bear territory after prices continued to tumble (with Brent at seven-month lows) due to rising oil output in Libya and Nigeria. Meanwhile, Chinese shares seem to enjoy limited support only from the decision of US index provider MSCI to add China's mainland stocks to one of its key benchmarks.

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The main question today is how markets in Asia will respond to the terror attacks in London and the weaker-than expected US jobs report, both occurring at the end of last week when Asian markets had already closed. Interestingly enough, the bleak US employment data did little to dent investor sentiment in the USA at the end of last week. The three key indexes on Wall Street all rose on Friday, moving closely to record highs.

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Most Asian stocks are in the green zone on Monday morning (22/05), tracking Wall Street's performance on Friday where investors' attention shifted from recent political drama - related to US President Donald Trump - to good corporate earnings of Deere and Caterpillar. Meanwhile, rising crude oil ahead of the OPEC meeting on Friday (May 25, 2017) added positive sentiments to markets. Indonesia is again on track to finish at a new all-time record high.

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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.

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Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index slipped for the third consecutive day on Tuesday (02/05), unable to follow the general trend in Asian markets. While the overnight rally on Wall Street (the Nasdaq hitting a new all-time high) and easing geopolitical concerns on Korea provided the right context for most Asian stocks to rise, Indonesia failed to follow suit. This was attributed to higher-than-expected inflation. However, we also want to add that valuations of Indonesian stocks are still high, making these stocks "a bit unattractive".

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Asian shares rose on Tuesday morning (25/04), following the strong performance of Wall Street overnight, supported by easing concerns about the stability of the European Union (EU) after French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron is seen as the clear favorite in the presidential runoff. Macron, a pro-EU centrist, will face Marine Le Pen, an anti-EU nationalist, in the runoff. Due to easing concerns safe haven assets came under pressure, while the euro retained gains. Australia and New Zealand are closed for a public holiday.

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Indonesian stocks made a remarkable rebound on Friday (21/04). The benchmark Jakarta Composite Index gained 1.24 percent to 5,664.48 points on the last trading day of the week (coming Monday Indonesian markets are closed for the remembrance of the ascension of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad). Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah appreciated 0.01 percent to IDR 13,322 per US dollar on Friday (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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Despite mixed European and American markets on Wednesday (23/01) and declining Asian markets on Thursday (23/01) as these responded to weak Chinese manufacturing data and South Korea's Q4-2013 GDP outcome, it was unable to block Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) from extending its upward movement. The IHSG was supported by various positive company releases, including financial results of 2013, capital expenditure announcements, and new products or services releases.

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The upward revision of the IMF's outlook for global economic growth (raised to 3.7 percent) was able to boost several commodity prices. This then was a reason for investors to purchase mining stocks, which made a positive impact on the performance of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) on Wednesday (22/01). Stocks in the consumer and trade sectors were also popular as speculation emerged that demand for consumer goods will rise due to the severe floods in several cities in Indonesia.

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The forming of a morning doji star indeed indicated that there was potential for continued upward movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) despite the profit taking actions that emerged and limited the gain of the index (particularly those stocks that went into the overbought area). Factors that contributed positively to today's (21/01) performance of the Jakarta Composite Index were rising Asian stock markets and a rebound in commodity stocks as a number of commodities recorded slightly higher prices.

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The movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) on today's trading day (20/01) was rather volatile. Investors returned to the market after the fall of the index was limited at the end of last week. However, China's slowing economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 (7.7 percent) brought negative market sentiments. Still, foreign investors were net buyers of Indonesian stocks today and in combination with an appreciating rupiah exchange rate, the index rose 0.44 percent to 4,431.57 points.

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After Bank Panin Syariah became Indonesia's first newly listed company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the year 2014, it was quickly followed by four more listings in this past week. On Thursday (16/01), three new listings were conducted - Asuransi Mitra Maparya (ASMI), Bank Ina Perdana (BINA) and Capitol Nusantara Indonesia (CANI) - as well as one relisting - Tunas Alfin (TALF). The latter had delisted from the Surabaya Stock Exchange in December 2009 after the exchanges of Jakarta and Surabaya merged into the IDX.

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On Thursday's trading day (16/01), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell victim to profit taking after two days of sharp gains (although the index did not came close to its gap at 4,393-4,398 points). The index was also pulled down due to the World Bank's pessimistic forecast for growth of Indonesia's economy as well as today's mixed Asian stock indices. Lastly, the continued Indonesia rupiah exchange rate depreciation contributed to negative market sentiments.

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Despite our concern that Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) would be susceptible to profit taking after the national holiday on Tuesday (14/01) as the IHSG rose signficantly on Monday (13/01), it continued its rise on Wednesday (15/01). The IHSG was supported by positive Asian indices that were influenced by strong US and European stock markets after the release of positive economic data in the USA and Europe. The depreciating rupiah exchange rate, however, limited the IHSG's gain.

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ICRA Indonesia, an independent credit rating agency and subsidiary of ICRA Ltd. (associate of Moody's Investors Service), publishes a monthly newsletter which provides an update on the financial and economic developments in Indonesia of the last month. In the December 2013 edition, a number of important topics that are monitored include Indonesia's inflation rate, the trade balance, the current account deficit, the IDR rupiah exchange rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Below is an excerpt of the newsletter:

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Although Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) ended the first trading session down, it recovered in the second half of Wednesday's trading day (08/01). Investors were eager to buy stocks that have experienced a significant correction since May 2013. Moreover, as the Indonesia Stock Exchange reduced trading sizes to 100 shares per lot from 500 shares (to increase market liquidity and attract more retail investors), investors were able to benefit from these premium prices.

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As expected, the Jakarta Composite Index (abbreviated IHSG) continued its downward trend amid falling global indices. From the start of Tuesday's trading day (07/01), the IHSG had to face pressures resulting in foreign net selling. Apart from the weakening rupiah exchange rate, negative market sentiments were caused by the Goldman Sachs Group and JP Morgan Chase & Co that both downgraded emerging market economies. This led to a correction on Asian stock markets.

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