Recent Articles
Southeast Sulawesi’s 2024 Gubernatorial Election
Southeast Sulawesi, another resource-rich province in Sulawesi Island, will also hold a gubernatorial election this year. Ali Mazi, who is a politician from Nasdem, a political party led by media mogul Surya Paloh, is no longer able to enter the gubernatorial election since he has already served as Southeast Sulawesi governor for two periods. Without Ali Mazi, the 2024 gubernatorial election in Southeast Sulawesi will be an open race for anyone.
Business
Another overcooked Prajogo stock: Chandra Asri
Petrochemical firm Chandra Asri Pacific (TPIA), owned by Prajogo Pangestu, recorded a loss of US$33.1 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, against US$8.57 million profit in the corresponding period of 2023. Yet the company is now worth Rp677 trillion, 14 times equity. Even most profitable companies like BCA and BRI are valued less than four times equity.
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Gold Rises Ahead of US PCE Data
Gold rose past $2,350 per ounce on Friday, as investors continued assessing the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy direction following mixed results from recent economic data. The US GDP growth for the first quarter missed...
Dollar Steadies Ahead of PCE Inflation Data
The dollar index steadied around 105.6 on Friday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of a key US inflation reading for March that could provide more clues on the path for Federal Reserve monetary policy. On Thursday, the...
Bank of Japan Holds Rates, Sees Higher 2024 Inflation
The Bank of Japan kept its key short-term interest rate unchanged at around 0% to 0.1% at its April meeting, as widely expected, after delivering the first rate hike since 2007 and ending its eight years of negative rates in...
Profiles
Dahlan Iskan and PT Energi Sterila Higiena
PT Energi Sterila Higiena (Ensterna/Sterina) claims to be the pioneer in Indonesia commercial irradiation services and perhaps this is true. This seems to be the first time a company in the field of nuclear technology has appeared to the public. Behind the company is a familiar name, Dahlan Iskan. The former Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) is reportedly one of the company's founders. Unfortunately, this information became public after the company was involved in legal problems.