Indonesia’s United Tractors posts flat H1 net profit

July 29 (Reuters) – PT United Tractors (UNTR.JK), Indonesia’s biggest heavy equipment provider, posted a 0.8 percent rise in its first half 2010 net profit on Thursday, as revenues climbed but costs increased.

The firm, Indonesia’s largest mining contractor, posted a 1.888 trillion rupiah ($209.8 million) net profit in the first half of the year, versus 1.873 trillion rupiah a year earlier.

The company’s net revenue climbed 30 percent to 18.08 trillion rupiah.

Indonesia is expected to post economic growth of around 6 percent this year, driven by exports of resources that need heavy machinery, as well as increasing consumer demand.

Shares in United Tractors, which has a market cap of $7.3 billion, gained 21 percent in the first half of the year, outperforming the 15 percent rise in the Jakarta stock index .JKSE. (Reporting by Janeman Latul, Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia to downsize global sukuk issue – source

July 27 (Reuters) – Indonesia will downsize a global sukuk issue planned for this year, as it cuts its debt issuance because of a government forecast for a lower-than-expected budget deficit, a source told Reuters on Tuesday. The source familiar with the sukuk issue did not give the size of the expected cut.

Indonesia had aimed to raise up to $650 million in a global sukuk issue in October, a finance ministry official said earlier this month [ID:nJAK428520] (Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusumua and Dicky Kristanto; Writing by Neil Chatterjee)

US ends ban on ties with Indonesian special forces

July 22 (Reuters) – The United States announced on Thursday it was dropping a more than decade-old ban on ties with Indonesia’s special forces, imposed over human rights abuses in the 1990s.

The decision, made public by U.S. officials during a visit by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Jakarta, was taken after Indonesia took steps requested by Washington including the removal of convicted human rights violators from the organisation’s ranks. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sara Webb)

Indosat issues guidance on dlr bond-source

July 22 (Reuters) – PT Indosat (ISAT.JK), Indonesia’s No. 2 telecommunications firm, plans to issue a 10-year dollar bond around 7.75 percent, a source close to the deal said on Thursday.

The deal may be priced later in the day, the source said.

Citigroup (C.N), DBS (DBSM.SI), HSBC (0005.HK) (HSBA.L), Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) have been hired for the offer.

(Editing by Ken Wills)

Tsunami warning issued after Papua New Guinea quake

July 18 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s quake agency issued a tsunami warning on Sunday for a 7.1 magnitude quake 537 km northwest of Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moreseby.

Indonesia targets 4 trln rph in July 20 bond auction

July 15 (Reuters) – Indonesia has targeted raising 4 trillion rupiah ($442.3 million) in a bond auction on July 20, said Bhimantara Widyajala, a director in charge of bond issuance at the finance ministry.

Indonesia’s finance ministry has raised about 64.7 percent of its gross debt target issuance so far this year. (Reporting by Dicky Kristanto; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia targets 4 trln rph in July 20 bond auction

July 15 (Reuters) – Indonesia has targeted raising 4 trillion rupiah ($442.3 million) in a bond auction on July 20, said Bhimantara Widyajala, a director in charge of bond issuance at the finance ministry.

Indonesia’s finance ministry has raised about 64.7 percent of its gross debt target issuance so far this year. (Reporting by Dicky Kristanto; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia to hold max rupiah deposit rate at 7 pct

July 14 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s state deposit agency (LPS) said on Wednesday it will hold the maximum guaranteed rupiah bank deposit rate at 7 percent, and the maximum guaranteed bank dollar deposit rate at 2.75 percent.

Indonesia’s commercial banks closely follow these maximum rates since they affect lending rates and profitability. (Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusuma and Dicky Kristanto; Writing by Gde Anugrah Arka; Editing by Neil Fullick)

Indonesia XL Axiata revises up ’10 revenue growth target

July 14 (Reuters) – PT XL Axiata (EXCL.JK), Indonesia’s third biggest cellular firm, revised up its 2010 revenue growth target to 17-18 percent from a forecast of 15 percent previously, Hasnul Suhaimi, XL’s president director, said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Janeman Latul, Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe)

Indonesia’s XL sees 2010 subscribers up to 39 mln

July 14 (Reuters) – PT XL Axiata (EXCL.JK), Indonesia’s third biggest phone company, said on Wednesday that it has revised its full year target for subscribers to 38-39 million, after subscribers reached 35 million in June.

The firm early this year had targeted 34-35 million subscribers by the end of 2010. [ID:nJKB003455] (Reporting by Fathiya Dahrul; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia’s Bumi says H1 coal output up 13 pct

July 10 (Reuters) – Bumi Resources (BUMI.JK), Indonesia’s biggest coal miner, said on Saturday that it produced 30.2 million tonnes of coal in the first half of 2010, up 13 percent from the same period a year ago.

It said its average selling price in the second quarter rose to $71.6 a tonne, up from $62.7 a tonne in the first quarter.

“We are on track to cross our FY2010 guidance of sales of 64 million tonnes, production of 67 million tonnes and average FOB price of a minimum $67 a tonne,” Bumi spokesman Dileep Srivastava told Reuters.

(Reporting by Janeman Latul; writing by Neil Chatterjee; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)

Indonesia sees Antam buying aluminium firm Inalum

July 9 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s state enterprises minister Mustafa Abubakar said on Friday that state miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM.JK) is expected to acquire a 100 percent stake in aluminium firm PT Inalum, with talks ongoing.

Japanese investors hold a 58.8 percent stake in Inalum and the Indonesian state holds the rest. (Reporting by Fathiya Dahrul; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia c.bank says no change to policy this yr

July 9 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s inflation is likely to slow down in the fourth quarter of this year, and so the central bank will not change monetary policy in 2010, acting central governor Darmin Nasution said on Friday.

His latest remarks were in line with his previous remarks that inflation may ease in coming months. A central bank statement issued after its monthly rate meeting on Monday, however, said price pressure could pick up later this year. (Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusuma; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia’s Harum Energy delays $400 mln IPO-sources

July 5 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s PT Harum Energy, a thermal coal miner, has indefinitely delayed a $400 million initial public offering planned for this August due to market conditions, two sources involved in the deal told Reuters on Monday.

“The company asked to delay the listing indefinitely,” said a source close to the deal, who declined to be identified because they were not allowed to speak publically on the matter. (Reporting by Janeman Latul in Jakarta and Harry Suhartono in Singapore; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Indonesia aims to sell 4 trln rph bonds on July 6

July 1 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s finance ministry expects to raise 4 trillion rupiah ($441.7 million) worth of conventional bonds via an auction on July 6, it said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry holds regular debt auctions, the proceeds of which are used to help plug the state budget deficit. ($1=9,055 Rupiah) (Reporting by Dicky Kristanto and Adriana Nina Kusuma; Writing by Gde Anugrah Arka; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Nissan aims to boost Indonesia mkt share to 10 pct

June 29 (Reuters) – Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) aims to boost its market share in Indonesia to 10 percent, from around five to seven percent currently, its CEO Carlos Ghosn said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Cyclical Consumer Goods

The firm said in a statement that it targeted the market share increase by 2013, when it also planned to double production at its Indonesian plant to 100,000 units a year. (Reporting by Janeman Latul; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

UPDATE 1-Salamander Energy says TSL-1X well unsuccessful

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) – Salamander Energy Plc (SMDR.L), an Asia focussed oil and gas company, said it plugged and abandoned the Tom Su Lua-1X exploration well offshore Vietnam after the well was found to be dry.

The well, in the Vinh Chau Graben system, is the first exploration well in the basin. It encountered high quality reservoir sandstones but no hydrocarbons.

“Although a dry hole, the TSL-1X well confirmed certain elements of the play system in the Vin Chau graben,” said Chief Executive James Menzies.

The firm said in May that it is aiming for average daily production of between 17,000 and 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boepd) in 2010 and is planning 11 further exploration and appraisal wells between now and the end of the year. [ID:nLDE6491WM]

“Although disappointing, it should be re-iterated that this is only the first well in a new basin whilst Salamander have several further wells planned in this year’s campaign elsewhere including the high-impact Angklung prospect in Indonesia,” said Oriel Securites analyst Richard Rose on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Julie Crust; editing by Matt Scuffham)

Indonesia c.bank says sees rupiah 9,100-9,200 in 2010

June 25 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s central bank expects the rupiah to average between 9,100 per dollar and 9,200 per dollar this year, Darmin Nasution, senior deputy governor said on Friday.

(Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusuma; Writing by Fitri Wulandari; Editing by Neil Fullick)

Rajawali to list plantations via Eatertainment-sources

June 20 (Reuters) – Indonesian investment firm Rajawali Group plans to backdoor list its $1 billion plantation assets through its majority-owned firm Eatertainment (SMMT.JK) this year, sources told Reuters.

Cyclical Consumer Goods

“Rajawali plans to put its plantation assets into a new company it recently acquired, Eatertainment,” said a source with direct knowledge of the deal on Sunday.

Rajawali Group’s managing director told Reuters in an interview earlier this month that it planned in the next year to list its plantation assets, including palm oil plantations in Indonesia. (Reporting by Janeman Latul; Editing by Neil Chatterjee and Jon Loades-Carter)

Indonesia fin min aims to raise 5 trln rph via debt auction

June 17 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s finance ministry said on Thursday it aims to raise 5 trillion rupiah ($546.6 million) from sales of government debt on June 22. ($1=9147 rupiah) (Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusuma and Sonya Angraini; Writing by Gde Anugrah Arka; Editing by Sara Webb)