Indonesia booked trade surplus of US$1.32 billion in February 2017, an increase 16.1% year-on-year, thanks to 11.2% growth in export, while import increased by 10.6%. Higher average price of key commodities contributed to export growth, while higher price of crude and gas didn’t help much.

After a weak start, cement sales picked up slightly by 0.5% year-on-year in February, lifted by stronger performance in Java market, but relatively weaker outside Java. Semen Indonesia (SMGR) was a winner in the month with 6% growth in domestic sales to 1.92 million tons, while export sales skyrocketed 1075%.

Indosat (ISAT), the second largest telecommunications operator, booked net profit of Rp1.1 trillion last year against loss of Rp1.31 trillion in 2015, supported by strong sales revenue growth of 9% and improved margins. Sales revenues softened in the fourth quarter, but operating profit jumped 129% in the quarter.

So, Bakrie Telecom (BTEL) has on March 1st, 2017 issued 6.19 billion new shares at Rp200 per share to PT Huawei Tech Indonesia. The Shenzhen-based telecommunication giant, accordingly, controls 16.83% shares of BTEL. This is part of debt restructuring program of Bakrie Telecom, wherein it issued Rp7.6 trillion worth of convertible bonds to settle the Rp11.6 trillion debts.

Shares of textile and garment producer PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk (SRIL), popular as Sritex, ended lower by 2.91% to Rp334 Tuesday (March 14) with 1.07 billion shares exchanged hands. SRIL is among the best performing stocks with 45% gain year-to-date, so some might have realized gains upon learning its performance in the fourth quarter and full year 2016.

Shares of Chandra Asri (TPIA), the largest petrochemical company in Indonesia, inched up 0.5% only this morning despite strong performance reported in the fourth quarter of 2016. Higher average prices of naphtha, key feedstock for an olefin center, might have weighed further rally in the stock.

After nearly one year of talks, Lippo Group has finally decided to exit from a casino project in Incheon, South Korea. Lippo Limited and OUE Limited, two entities directly/indirectly controlled by Riady Family/Lippo Group, have announced respectively their decisions late last week.

Indonesian ice cream market might have been dominated by Unilever Indonesia (UNVR) with its brand Walls and PT Campina Ice Cream Industry with their Campina brand. Retailers Trans Ice (Trans Corp) and Mitra Adiperkasa (MAPI), however, have intensified the competition with Baskin Robbins and Cold Stone Creamery respectively.

Questions surrounding financing of light-rail transit (LRT) projects in Jakarta, greater Jakarta, and Palembang might not be fully addressed by the government. Other public infrastructure projects, including water pipeline, public housing, airports, and toll roads, however, have been progressing relatively well.