Indonesia’s central bank unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate in an off-cycle decision, seeking to shore up the rupiah after a selloff rattled the nation’s currency and bonds. Bank Indonesia lifted the benchmark BI-Rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, it said in a statement on Tuesday, ahead of the scheduled June 17-18 policy review. The central bank had raised the key rate by a larger-than...
Indonesia’s central bank unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate in an off-cycle decision, seeking to shore up the rupiah after a selloff rattled the nation’s currency and bonds. Bank Indonesia lifted the benchmark BI-Rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, it said in a statement on Tuesday, ahead of the scheduled June 17-18 policy review. The central bank had raised the key rate by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points in May. “Bank Indonesia sees the need to take further steps to strengthen the stabilization of the rupiah exchange rate by raising yields and offering various incentives to encourage foreign inflows,” the central bank said in a statement. “The stabilization of the rupiah exchange rate is also intended to maintain the external resilience of the Indonesian economy and ensure that the inflation targets for 2026 and 2027 are met,” it added. The rupiah extended gains to 0.2% after the decision, while the yield of five-year government bonds held their increase of 13 basis points. Stocks rallied 4.8%, before heading into the noon break. The emergency action reflects escalating concerns among policymakers after the rupiah’s slump drained foreign exchange reserves, which fell for the fifth consecutive month in May, the longest losing streak since 2018. The surprise move comes a day after Indonesia’s 10-year government bond yield jumped to the highest in more than a year, underscoring pressure on local assets as investors reassess exposure to emerging markets. The rupiah has weakened about 8% this year, while foreign investors have pulled more than $3.5 billion from Indonesian stocks, as the benchmark equity index tumbled more than 30%. Bank Indonesia and the government had recently pledged to join forces to boost the appeal of Indonesian assets to attract portfolio inflows. It is the second off-cycle rate increase under Warjiyo since he took the the reins at Bank Indonesia about eight years ago. In May 2018, the central bank raised the benchmark rate by 25 ...
Revego Fund Managers is exploring a merger with H1 Holdings that would create one of South Africa’s largest renewable energy-focused funds. The transaction would combine the portfolios of Investec-backed Revego’s Africa Energy Fund with those of H1, creating a fund with assets exceeding 13.3 billion rand ($807 million) and featuring 36 projects with interests spanning solar, wind, hydro and batter...
Revego Fund Managers is exploring a merger with H1 Holdings that would create one of South Africa’s largest renewable energy-focused funds. The transaction would combine the portfolios of Investec-backed Revego’s Africa Energy Fund with those of H1, creating a fund with assets exceeding 13.3 billion rand ($807 million) and featuring 36 projects with interests spanning solar, wind, hydro and battery-storage projects across southern Africa. “It’ll allow both of us to invest on a primary basis in new infrastructure build,and new energy generation, but also allow sponsors and existing investors to recycle their capital,” H1 Chief Executive Officer Reyburn Hendricks said in an interview. Regulatory approval for the transaction is expected by 2028. Revego, an open-ended fund that began in August 2021, has a portfolio of 2.4 billion rand, thanks to investments from UK development-finance institution British International Investment Plc and South African pension administrator Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Ltd. Its initial backers include Investec, Eskom Pension and Provident Fund — which manages the retirement savings of workers at South Africa’s state-owned power utility — and UK Climate Investments LLP , a joint venture between the British government and Macquarie Asset Management Ltd. It has 10 investments in South Africa, which has the biggest renewable-energy industry in the sub-Saharan African region. As part of the new structure, it will take on H1’s 26 projects, which will grow its scale, and give investors access to a de-risked and diversified portfolio. The new vehicle’s target yield will be inflation plus 5% to 7%, Revego Chief Investment Officer Ziyaad Sarang said. H1 — which began in 2011 and has been structuring projects across natural resources, energy, agriculture and infrastructure — will become Revego’s majority shareholder after increasing its stake to 51% from 36% currently. Read more: Investec-Backed Revego Lands $62 Million for South Africa Energy In...
peshkov/iStock via Getty Images Executive summary • The Nationwide International Small Cap Fund (IS share class) outperformed the MSCI EAFE® Small Cap Index 1.54% versus -1.25% for the quarter. • Weak selection in industrials, consumer staples, and utilities was more than offset by selection in information technology, materials, and communication services. • On a regional basis, stock selection wa...
peshkov/iStock via Getty Images Executive summary • The Nationwide International Small Cap Fund (IS share class) outperformed the MSCI EAFE® Small Cap Index 1.54% versus -1.25% for the quarter. • Weak selection in industrials, consumer staples, and utilities was more than offset by selection in information technology, materials, and communication services. • On a regional basis, stock selection was weakest in the Middle East and Europe. Market Environment International equities edged higher in the first quarter of 2026, navigating a complex macro backdrop shaped by geopolitical tensions and renewed inflation concerns. The escalation of military actions in the Middle East triggered a global energy shock, driving oil prices sharply higher and shifting investor focus back toward inflation and macroeconomic risk. This shock unfolded alongside a more protectionist global trade environment, complicating cross-border commerce and clouding the outlook for trade-dependent economies. At the same time, divergence in monetary policy across major regions reinforced an increasingly fragmented macroeconomic environment, with central banks in inflation- and energy-sensitive countries maintaining tighter policy stances while others moved more cautiously toward easing. Although corporate fundamentals remained broadly resilient across international markets, equity performance was tempered by valuation discipline as higher risk premia limited multiple expansion. As a result, the global economy faces a more challenging path forward, marked by potentially tighter financial conditions and heightened downside risks. The MSCI EAFE® Small Cap Index returned -1.25% for the period. Within the Index, six out of 11 sectors declined for the quarter. Consumer discretionary and communication services were the bottom performing sectors, while energy and utilities were the top performing sectors for the period. Performance Review Weak selection in industrials, consumer discretionary, and utilities wa...
A US Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump saying the two crew members abroad were “fine” after the incident involving the strategic waterway, which remains under a chokehold by Iran. What caused the crash remained unclear Tuesday morning in the Middle East, which was still reeling after Iran and Israel exchanged fire the previous day in the b...
A US Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump saying the two crew members abroad were “fine” after the incident involving the strategic waterway, which remains under a chokehold by Iran. What caused the crash remained unclear Tuesday morning in the Middle East, which was still reeling after Iran and Israel exchanged fire the previous day in the biggest blow yet to the straining ceasefire in the Iran war. Iranian state media, relying on foreign...
(RTTNews) - Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) said the the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the U.S. has included Baidu on the Department of Defense's list of Chinese Military Companies, or the CMC List. Baidu believes there is no justification for its inclusion on such list as the company is nei
(RTTNews) - Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) said the the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the U.S. has included Baidu on the Department of Defense's list of Chinese Military Companies, or the CMC List. Baidu believes there is no justification for its inclusion on such list as the company is nei
A worker operates a machine tool in a workshop producing rubber tires in Jining, Shandong province. Photo: VCG China’s industrial output likely accelerated in May, while consumption and investment remained weak, according to a Caixin survey, suggesting the country’s economic recovery continues to rely heavily on external demand. The survey of 11 domestic and international institutions showed an av...
A worker operates a machine tool in a workshop producing rubber tires in Jining, Shandong province. Photo: VCG China’s industrial output likely accelerated in May, while consumption and investment remained weak, according to a Caixin survey, suggesting the country’s economic recovery continues to rely heavily on external demand. The survey of 11 domestic and international institutions showed an average forecast for industrial production growth of 4.3% year-on-year in May, up from the previous month’s actual reading of 4.1%.
XtockImages/iStock via Getty Images China’s trade surplus expanded to $105.43 billion in May 2026, up from $102.72 billion in May 2025, comfortably beating market forecasts of $92.1 billion. However, due to higher import costs earlier in the year, the cumulative trade surplus for the first five months of 2026 (January–May) declined to $451.71 billion, compared to $471.9 billion during the same per...
XtockImages/iStock via Getty Images China’s trade surplus expanded to $105.43 billion in May 2026, up from $102.72 billion in May 2025, comfortably beating market forecasts of $92.1 billion. However, due to higher import costs earlier in the year, the cumulative trade surplus for the first five months of 2026 (January–May) declined to $451.71 billion, compared to $471.9 billion during the same period in 2025. Exports grew sharply by 19.4% year-on-year to a record $376.78 billion in May 2026. This performance outpaced expectations, propelled by robust global demand for semiconductors and AI hardware, alongside a surge in front-loading shipments by exporters racing to outrun upcoming foreign tariff deadlines. Meanwhile, imports climbed 27.4% year-on-year to $271.35 billion, beating consensus estimates and marking the 12th consecutive month of import expansion due to resilient domestic demand. For the first five months of the year, total imports rose 24.5% to $1,261.69 billion. On Tuesday, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,965 on Tuesday, while the Shenzhen Component advanced 1.2%, and the offshore yuan held its gains around 6.78 per dollar , as stronger-than-expected trade data highlighted the resilience of China's export sector despite signs of an economic slowdown. ETFs: (NYSEARCA: FXI ), (NYSEARCA: KWEB ), (NYSEARCA: CQQQ ), (NASDAQ: MCHI ), (NYSEARCA: ASHR ), (NYSEARCA: YINN ), (NYSE: TDF ), (NYSEARCA: CHIQ ), (NYSEARCA: GXC ), (NYSEARCA: EWH ), (NYSEARCA: KBA ), (NYSEARCA: YANG ), (NASDAQ: CXSE ), (NYSE: CAF ), (NYSEARCA: CWEB ), (NASDAQ: PGJ ), (NYSEARCA: KURE ). Currency: ( CNY:USD ) More on China markets and economy: GXC: Deflation And Unemployment Spiral Risks For China FXI And MCHI: China Is A Perfect Example Of A Value Trap Trump-Xi Summit: Rare Earths, Oil, And A Fragile Truce China says overseas holdings won't face forced liquidation Asian stock markets plunge as South Korea's KOSPI triggers halt amid global tech rout, geopolitical shock
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. , Malaysia’s second-biggest bank, says it’s seeking merger and acquisition opportunities in neighboring Indonesia despite a slump in investor confidence in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. “For investors who see long-term potential in Indonesia, certainly it is a good time to come in,” CIMB’s Chief Executive Officer Novan Amirudin said in a Bloomberg TV interview in Kuala...
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. , Malaysia’s second-biggest bank, says it’s seeking merger and acquisition opportunities in neighboring Indonesia despite a slump in investor confidence in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. “For investors who see long-term potential in Indonesia, certainly it is a good time to come in,” CIMB’s Chief Executive Officer Novan Amirudin said in a Bloomberg TV interview in Kuala Lumpur with Haslinda Amin . The bank remains “fully committed” to the market. CIMB’s confidence comes as Indonesia struggles to win back investors worried by President Prabowo Subianto ’s populist and interventionist agenda, especially as the conflict in the Middle East drives up the cost of fuel subsidies. Indonesia’s rupiah has slumped more than 8% this year to become Asia’s worst-performing currency. The benchmark stock index has dropped 35%, though it gained on Tuesday. Read More: ‘Sell Indonesia’ Sweeps Trading Desks as Prabowo Tightens Grip The Malaysian lender, which operates CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, is looking at various assets that would complement its existing business, with wealth among those areas, Novan said. “We would also look at maybe certain specialized areas that we currently do not have,” Novan said. CIMB was among the shortlisted bidders for HSBC Holdings Plc’s retail and wealth assets in Indonesia, Bloomberg News reported last month. Singapore’s Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. substantially outbid its rivals to allow it to enter talks to finalize a deal. Malaysia’s largest lender Malayan Banking Bhd. also said it expects its Indonesian operations to be a big contributor to the group’s business in the medium to long-term. Indonesia’s economy remains in growth mode, Khairussaleh Ramli , president and group CEO said in a separate interview . Still, Khairussaleh acknowledged the complications on the ground, saying the bank is focusing on trying to see how “it can still serve our customers there, but, you know, understanding the challenges that are being face...