Brief Indonesia: The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma – Widodo Leads, a Retail Conundrum, and Indonesian E-Commerce and more

In this briefing:

1. The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma – Widodo Leads, a Retail Conundrum, and Indonesian E-Commerce
2. Global Capital Flows Show China’s Collapsing Export Markets Could Soon Revive
3. Japan – Chinese Flu
4. Widodo Leads 59-31 / IA-Cepa Holds Promise / Online Permitting Progresses / Rights Activist Arrested

1. The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma – Widodo Leads, a Retail Conundrum, and Indonesian E-Commerce

Macro Insights

In Politics, Uncertainty and Bad Policy: The Third Wheels of Profits and the Investment Cycle, Dr. Jim Walker discusses the outlook for Asian Markets in light of a rising profit upcycle. 

In Widodo Leads 59-31 / IA-Cepa Holds Promise / Online Permitting Progresses / Rights Activist Arrested, CrossASEAN Insight Provider Kevin O’Rourke analyses the most important political and economic developments over the past week. 

In Philippines: February Inflation Eases Back to BSP’s Inflation Target Range, Jun Trinidad comments on the latest inflation numbers out of the Philippines. 

Equity Bottom-Up Insights

In Matahari Department Store (LPPF IJ) – A Retail Conundrum,  CrossASEAN Insight provider Angus Mackintosh circles back to this beaten up retailer post FY18 results, which represents a retail conundrum. 

In PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero): Rather Rich for a Bargain Hunter, Paul Hollingworth takes a close look at Indonesia’sbiggest micro-lender. Bank Rakyat Indonesia Perser (BBRI IJ) seems to be doing a great deal right to perhaps satisfy a punchy valuation. 

In OCBC – Difficult to Square, Daniel Tabbush zooms in on this Singapore lender and finds it less than attractive with some conflicting numbers. 

In MINT’s First Post-Acquisition Update, our Thai Guru Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA circles back to leading Thai hotel operator Minor International (MINT TB) plus updates on Bangkok Dec Con (BKD TB). 

In Delta Electronics (DELTA TB): Little Option but to Accept the Tender Offer, Arun George revisits Delta Electronics (2308 TT) and its ongoing takeover situation. 

In Sea Ltd Placement – Capitalizing on Momentum, Zhen Zhou, Toh looks at this internet retailer following the announcement of a placement, which is larger than its IPO. 

In Sea Ltd: Follow-On Public Offering an Opportunistic Fundraising?, Johannes Salim, CFA circles back to Sea Ltd (SE US) following up on his recent Insight on the company. 

In Sea Ltd (SE US): Placement a Good Opportunity to Enter an Attractive Story, Arun George comments on the recent placement by the company. 

In Sea Ltd (SE US): Placing Price Leaves Money on the Table, Arun George revisits the company following confirmation of the price and size of its placement. 

In Sea Ltd (SE US): The Bear Case – A One-Hit Wonder?, Rickin Thakrar takes a more negative stance referring to earlier insights from Arun George. 

In RHB Bank Placement – A Little Less Surprising but Little Bit Bigger Deal, Sumeet Singh zeros in on the latest placement in RHB Bank Bhd (RHBBANK MK).  

In M: Trimmed 2019-20E Earnings Forecast by 12% and 19%, our friends at Country Group revisit Mk Restaurants Group (M TB) post the company’s results. 

In Accordia Golf Trust (AGT): Buy but Please Consider This…, Henry Soediarko zeros in on this golf play. 

Sector and Thematic Insights

In Thai Telcos Struggle as All Three Seek to Gain Share While Spectrum Risk Looms Again in 2019., our friend at New Street Research revisit the Thai Telecom sector following recent results. 

In Vietnam Market Update: Deep Value Found in Salient Themes, Frontiersman Dylan Waller seeks out attractive investment themes in Vietnam. 

2. Global Capital Flows Show China’s Collapsing Export Markets Could Soon Revive

• Capital flows are strongly Granger causal
• Gross capital flows lead World shipping activity by 4 months
• Capital flows have been slowly rising since June 2018: in February they jumped
• Reinforces out pro-Asia and pro-China investment message

3. Japan – Chinese Flu

By Konstantinos Venetis, Senior Economist

• Japan skirts recession but near-term prospects remain weak
• Deflationary headwinds to persist in H1, threatening business spending
• Recovery likely in late 2019 as world trade finds a firmer footing

4. Widodo Leads 59-31 / IA-Cepa Holds Promise / Online Permitting Progresses / Rights Activist Arrested

A credible poll — the first new trustworthy data in a month — shows Widodo having expanded his lead to 59 percent, versus 31 percent for Prabowo.  The latter’s prospects are dim.  Indonesia’s Comprehensive Partnership (Cepa) with Australia will bring myriad import prices down — although, contrary to a spate of international press reports, it does not raise ownership ceilings for Australian investors.  A senior activist with Amnesty International Indonesia suffered arrest for critizing the military’s plan to place hundreds of active officers in civilian posts.  The BKPM’s OSS system for online permiting is making progress, although its smooth functioning remains a distanct prospect.

Politics: President Joko Widodo proposed monthly income support for graduates of vocational programs who lack immediate employment and need to search for jobs.  He did not specify an amount per recipient.  The proposal has some merit – but simple regulatory changes to facilitate investment and job‑creation would obviate its need.  Politically, the concept will likely prove popular, further boosting Widodo (Page 2).  A prominent Partai Demokrat official, Andi Arief, left the party to undergo drug rehabilitation.  This marks yet another blow for a party that had been Indonesia’s largest only five years ago (p. 3).  A human rights activist and lecturer suffered arrest for allegedly defaming the military (p. 4). 

Surveys: In the first new poll data to emerge in over a month, the Survey Network (LSI) showed that, as of late February, nationwide support for Widodo stood at 59 percent, versus 31 percent for Gerindra Chair Prabowo Subianto.  The findings, which are credible, suggest that Widodo strengthened during February, perhaps due to the two televised debates – and despite Prabowo’s emphatic attempts to provoke various economic fears.  The data portray Prabowo’s prospects as distinctly remote.  A Widodo landslide would further reduce the likelihood of disruption or unrest, as Prabowo‑camp claims of fraud or manipulation would lack credence.  Meanwhile, Widodo would emerge with an unequivocal mandate and particularly strong political capital.  Parties that defy him would jeopardize their own image.  But whether he would use this strength effectively is questionable (p. 5).  Findings from Polmark, a somewhat obscure firm employed by the National Mandate Party (Pan), claim that Widodo’s margin over Prabowo is only 15 percentage points – but the poll is old, it has a large error margin and it featured a 34 percent level of undecided respondents.  As a percen­tage of decided respondents, Widodo’s support is comparable to other (and better) polls (p. 6). 

Justice: In the first verdicts in Lippo’s Meikarta scandal, four Lippo personnel including Billy Sindoro received sentences ranging from 1.5‑3.5 years each.  This is Sindoro’s second conviction from the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) (p. 8).

Policy News: A new phase of implementation is underway for online permitting (p. 8).

International: During an election that features strident economic critiques, the govern­ment concluded the Comprehensive Economic Partnership with Australia (IA‑Cepa).  Parties may yet posture when it comes due for ratifi­cation, but other trade agreements have managed to pass.  The IA-Cepa reduces tariffs on myriad Australian goods from five percent to zero, while higher tariffs on certain foods will fall precipitously.  Contrary to reports, it sets no new foreign ownership ceilings (p. 8).