Erajaya Swasembada (ERAA), the largest retailer for gadgets, which in the past few months expanded outlets for JUUL electric cigarette, generated net profit of Rp165.6 billion only in the first nine months of 2019, crashed from Rp636.5 billion in the corresponding period last year due to falling sales revenues and squeezed margins.

Convenience store operator Alfamart (AMRT) booked net profit of Rp650 billion in Jan-Sep 2019, jumped by 94% from the corresponding period last year even though its sales increased by 9.1% only to Rp54.1 trillion. Looks like that Alfamart continued to boost its net profit margin from below 1% for many years to over 1.2% in the first nine months of 2019.

Last Monday (Oct 28), minister of health Terawan Agus Putranto made an interesting statement about Puskesmas, the government-mandated community health centers located across the archipelago. Puskesmas, according to Terawan, shall return to its primary functions: preventive and promotive.

The new minister of health Lt General dr Terawan Agus Putranto might have resolved his issues with Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI). Future of the country’s universal healthcare program, however, remains a big issue to address, whose policies might directly or indirectly affecting the healthcare industry. It is in this context that his recent interview with detik.com is interesting.

SmartFren (FREN) is among ‘the best performing’ stocks year-to-date with 91% gain, before today’s correction. At the last quoted price, FREN had market capitalization of Rp29.17 trillion, way above second largest telco operator Indosat (Rp17.4 trillion). The company suffered Rp1.64 trillion of net loss in the first nine months of 2019, down 34.5% from the same period last year, thanks to improved operations.

PT Gudang Garam Tbk (GGRM), controlled by Wonowidjojo family, maintains its position as the largest cigarette player with sales revenues of Rp81.72 trillion in the first nine months of 2019, bigger than HM Sampoerna (HMSP), controlled by Philip Morris International, which generated sales revenue of Rp77.5 trillion in the same period.

Indonesia, the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia, continues to attract investments. Following Northstar Group’s Open Space Ventures (previously NSI Ventures), which has committed capital of $225 million in 27 portfolio companies, more private equity firms are raising funds in the sector.

LinkNet (LINK) posted net profit of Rp773 billion in the first nine months of 2019, down 5.3% from the corresponding period last year on lower profit margins. LinkNet, controlled by Lippo Group, actually returned to positive territory with sales revenue growth of 1.2%...

Minister of public works and housing Basuki Hadimuljono, state-owned enterprises minister Erick Thohir, tourism and creative economy minister Wishnutama Kusubandio, investment minister Bahlil Lahadalia were seen at Basuki’s office Saturday (Oct 26) to discuss about future development of five emerging destinations: Toba Lake, Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang. This is a promising start.

Market value of cigarette giant HM Sampoerna (HMSP) has dropped nearly 47% from its recent peak, among others, due to government’s policy in raising significantly tobacco excise effective January 1st, 2020. Some continue to remind the government about potential mass layoffs from the policy, but looks like it will not be changed anytime soon.