In the past few days, six pollsters have released the result of their surveys on the electability of the pairs in the Jakarta gubernatorial race. Though the survey results differ from one pollster to another, there is a red thread that may help us understand how things might play out if the election were to begin today. Let’s take a look at where things are now.
Read MoreData from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) shows realized investment of Rp612.8 trillion in 2016 (an increase of 12.4% from Rp545.4 trillion in 2015) of which foreign direct investment (FDI) reached Rp396.6 trillion (an increase of only 8.4%). Most investors, however, believe that consistency in infrastructure development, public housing, and legal reforms will give strong fundamentals for Indonesia to attracting more foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the two to three years time.
Read MorePresident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has granted a pardon for the former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Antasari Azhar, who was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for murder. Many believe that Antasari was a victim of a high-level political plot executed under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)’s regime. One wonders what would follow after the clemency.
Read MoreThe Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has just conducted a massive job rotation that affects over 140 Echelon III and Echelon II officials in the institution. The job rotation was done because some senior officials were set for retirement. Controversy followed. Several names associated a corruption case were promoted to higher and more important positions.
Read MorePT AKR Corporindo Tbk (AKRA) filed a bankruptcy lawsuit against its business partner PT Kapuas Tunggal Persada (KTP), the subsidiary of PT Mutiara Bara Energy, since December 2016 over a debt dispute worth Rp19.63 billion. In the petition, AKRA mentioned several other creditors. But KTP recently claimed that they do not recognize the other creditors in the petition.
Read MoreWorld crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 134.1 million tons (Mt) in December 2016, up 5.5% than December 2015. Accordingly crude steel production for full year 2016 reached 1.628 billion tons, inched up 0.8% from the previous year. China and India were the only top producing countries reporting positive growth last year.
Read MoreAsian stocks gained early on Thursday (Jan 26), cheered by the Dow Jones Industrial Average breaching past the 20,000-level threshold for the first time though concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance kept the dollar on the defensive, Reuters reported. The gains are also spurred by better-than-expected Japanese exports data and South Korean GDP figures boosted sentiment. Japan Wednesday reported its trade surplus sharply jumped in Dec 2016 as export grew 5.4%, the first annual rise in fifteen months.
Read More“For each month of delay in obtaining approval to export, PT-FI’s share of production is projected to be reduced by approximately 70 million pounds of copper and 100 thousand ounces of gold,” Freeport McMoRan, owner of PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI), said in its full year 2016 report regarding its future operations in Indonesia following regulatory changes issued two weeks ago. We’re talking about US$188 million of sales revenues from copper and US$120 million of revenues from gold or a combined US$308 million at the current price.
Read MoreMinistry of energy and mineral resources identified roughly half of 6,000 mining business permits (IUPs) plan to start commercial production of coal this year. Central government, unfortunately, won’t be able to control their output, because the authority is in the hands of regional governments. Higher average price of thermal coal encourages those IUPs to move from exploration to production stage.
Read MoreBakrie-related shares dominated Wednesday’s trading as 1.3 billion shares of Bumi Resources were exchanged hands, while 1.7 billion shares of Bumi Resources Minerals (BRMS) were traded. Almost 3 billion shares of Darma Henwa (DEWA) were traded as the stock closed higher by 22%. There were also 2.2 billion shares of Bakrie Sumatra Plantations exchanged hands as the stock jumped 19%.
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