Composite index of Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) pared some gains this morning as investors were waiting the release of survey from Bank Indonesia about retail sector. Earlier survey pointed to a weaker consumer confidence, weighing on recovery of some blue chip stocks.

Unlike peers, shares of state bank BRI (BBRI) ended higher by 1% to Rp4,010 on Tuesday (Feb 11). At the last quoted price, BRI, the second largest bank by total assets, was worth Rp601.67 trillion, far below Bank Central Asia (BBCA, Rp1,108 trillion). 

Other than stinging remarks about green energy export to Singapore, energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who wants to be seen as a tough guy after weeks of pressures related to the chaotic LPG distribution, threatened Japanese energy giant Inpex to revoke the oil and gas concession in Masela Block, Maluku province, where the US$35 billion investment yet to be materialised.

Energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who is chairman of Golkar Party, said he hold the plan to export renewable energy to Singapore, which was struck by the previous administration. Bahlil was part of the Jokowi administration, but seems to change stance under Prabowo regime. This probably is another example of unstable policy offered by Indonesia, a country needing strong inflow of investments to achieve the ambitious 8% growth. 

The ChatGPT and Deepseek are undoubtedly familiar in today’s technology-driven society. Their ability to answer a wide range of questions has made them popular tools for students and professionals alike. Like a magical mirror in fairy tales, these technologies seem to provide instant answers to almost any query. However, can the responses they generate always be trusted? How exactly do ChatGPT and Deepseek function?

The looming escalation of global trade war remains a big concern for market participants in the region. Stock markets in Asia pared earlier high gains, where some, including Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), even returned to negative territory. 

Shares of property developer PT City Retail Developments (NIRO) ended flat at Rp130 yesterday (Feb 10). At the last quoted price, NIRO was worth Rp2.88 trillion, below its equity of Rp5.65 trillion as per September 30, 2024.

Shares of Bank Mega (MEGA), reportedly the most profitable business within Chairul Tanjung’s CT Corp, ended flat at Rp3,730 on Monday (Feb 10) to make a market capitalisation of Rp43.4 trillion, higher than bigger banks like Danamon (BDMN) and Bank Panin (PNBN).

Kompas, the largest newspaper in the country, published two articles contrasting Vietnam’s efficiency measures (let go 100,000 civil servants and cutting down ministries) and Indonesia’s chaotic 2025 budget cut (mostly to finance the free meal program) in its today’s front page. Standstill in the budget might cost the economy, at least in the first and second quarter of the year. 

Indonesia enjoys political stability under Prabowo administration. Without significant formal opposition, Prabowo actually has a strong political capital to take the country to higher growth environment because political stability is key for investments.