Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves fell USD $2.8 billion to USD $108.0 billion at the end of June 2015 (from USD $110.8 billion one month earlier). This fall was caused by foreign debt repayment and the use of foreign exchange to stabilize the rupiah exchange rate. Due to external pressures (particularly looming further monetary tightening in the USA this year and the possible Greek exit from the euro), the rupiah is the worst performing Asian currency tracked by Bloomberg so far in 2015, weakening about 7 percent against the US dollar.

Lanjut baca ›

Agus Martowardojo, Governor of Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia), predicts that the current economic turmoil in the Eurozone, caused by the Greek debt crisis, will impact on the stability of developing countries, including Indonesia. Although in terms of both trade and investment there should not be a real impact originating from Greek turmoil, the perception of macroeconomic stability will be somewhat hit on the back of global uncertainty. In line with most markets, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah weakened on Monday (06/07).

Lanjut baca ›

Seperti yang telah diprediksi saham-saham Indonesia dan juga rupiah melemah pada pembukaan perdagangan di hari Senin pagi (06/07). Performa ini sejalan dengan arah pasar-pasar lain di Asia. Alasan utama di balik performa ini adalah hasil dari referendum Yunani, diadakan pada hari Minggu (05/07), yang menunjukkan bahwa para pemilih Yunani sangat menolak rencana-rencana reformasi yang dituntut oleh para kreditor internasionalnya. Ini secara serius membahayakan masa depan Yunani di zona euro.

Lanjut baca ›

Pada 1 Juli 2015, Peraturan Bank Indonesia No. 17/3/PBI/2015 tentang Kewajiban Penggunaan Rupiah di Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia mulai berlaku. Peraturan BI ini, ditandatangani pada 31 Maret 2015, melarang penggunaan mata uang asing dalam transaksi di Indonesia dalam rangka memperdalam pasar domestik rupiah, menstabilkan rupiah (yang telah melemah terhadap dollar AS), dan mendorong ekspansi perekonomian. Undang-Undang sebelumnya (UU No. 7/2011) mengizinkan pihak-pihak yang terlibat dalam kontrak untuk membuat kesepakatan menggunakan mata uang lainnya (bukan rupiah) untuk pembayaran.

Lanjut baca ›

Eric Sugandi, Chief Economist dari Standard Chartered Bank, memprediksi bahwa rupiah akan melemah menjadi Rp 13.900 per dollar Amerika Serikat (AS) pada akhir tahun ini dari Rp 13.339 pada hari ini (29/06) karena dampak dari momentum bullish dollar AS menjelang pengetatan moneter di AS dan ancaman keluarnya Yunani dari zona euro. Sebenarnya, ini adalah prognosa konservatif. Apabila bank sentral Indonesia tidak meningkatkan suku bunga acuannya (BI rate), sekarang pada 7,50%, tekanan terhadap rupiah mungkin akan meningkat nyata secara lebih lanjut.

Lanjut baca ›

Meskipun Indonesia dianggap sebagai salah satu perekonomian Asia yang sangat rentah terhadap keluarnya Yunani dari zona euro (Greek exit/Grexit), saham dan rupiah Indonesia tidak melemah sebanyak aset-aset pasar negara berkembang lainnya pada hari Senin (29/06), hari perdagangan pertama setelah hancurnya pembicaraan antara Yunani, yang dibebani banyak hutang, dengan para kreditor internasionalnya. Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG) jatuh 0,82% menjadi 4.882,59 poin sementara rupiah melemah 0,24% menjadi Rp 13.339 per dollar AS (Indeks Bloomberg).

Lanjut baca ›

Saham Indonesia diprediksi merasakan tekanan turun yang berat pada hari Senin (29/06) karena pembicaraan yang terhenti antara Yunani yang terbeban hutang dengan para kreditor internasionalnya. Transaksi Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG) masih belum dibuka namun pasar-pasar Asia yang lain segera jatuh setelah pembukaan. Indeks Nikkei 225 dari Jepang turun 2,28% sementara yen menguat (para investor sedang mengejar aset-aset yang aman), sementara KOSPI dari Korea Selatan jatuh 1,5%. Nilai euro sangat menurun dalam perdagangan Asia.

Lanjut baca ›

Most stock indices across the world continued to fall on Friday (26/06) on heightened concern that debt-ridden Greece will fail to reach an agreement with its international creditors. The deal is necessary for Greece to obtain bailout funds in order to avoid a default on its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due on 30 June 2015. A default could mean a Greek exit (Grexit) from the Eurozone and jeopardizes stability of the whole financial system of the region. Talks between both sides will continue into the weekend.

Lanjut baca ›

As Greece and its international creditors have failed to reach an agreement (yet) regarding the disbursement of crucial bailout funds for the debt payment of debt-ridden Greece to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) later this month, most Asian stocks fell on Thursday (25/06) in cautious trading. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell 0.68 percent to 4,920.04 points, while the rupiah depreciated 0.20 percent to IDR 13,328 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index.

Lanjut baca ›

Pada hari Selasa (23/06) indeks-indeks saham Asia meningkatkan keuntungan berkat optimisme bahwa Yunani yang sedang dibebani hutang tidak akan gagal melakukan pembayaran hutang dan tetap menjadi anggota Uni Eropa. Sekalipun para pemimpin Uni Eropa mengingatkan bahwa masih ada pekerjaan yang harus dilakukan sebelum persetujuan bisa dicapai antara Yunani dan para kreditornya, pasar yakin bahwa tercapainya kesepakatan hanya masalah waktu. Kendati begitu, sama dengan keadaan kemarin, Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG) tidak mengikuti optimisme global dan justru menurun 0,44% menjadi 4.937,65 poin.

Lanjut baca ›

The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate continued to depreciate on Monday (02/03). According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s currency depreciated 0.30 percent to IDR 12,970 per US dollar, a six-year low. Apart from general bullish US dollar momentum in recent months (amid monetary tightening in the USA), the rupiah weakened due to Bank Indonesia’s signals that it tolerates a weaker currency in a move to boost exports (limiting the country’s current account deficit), and due to China’s interest rates cut.

Lanjut baca ›

Nilai tukar rupiah menguat pada Senin (16/02) karena neraca perdagangan dan neraca transaksi berjalan membaik, sementara dolar AS melemah karena penjualan ritel AS yang mengecewakan dan karena optimisme bahwa Yunani akan tetap menjadi anggota zona euro. Sementara itu, kementerian keuangan Indonesia mengadakan lelang obligasi konvensional di mana Rp 12 triliun dijual. Berdasarkan data Bloomberg, rupiah terapresiasi 0.35 persen menjadi Rp 12,753 per dolar AS pada Senin (16/02).

Lanjut baca ›

The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated and Indonesian stocks rose on Wednesday (04/02) on the back of rallying oil prices, a successful bond auction, easing tensions in Europe, and weak US factory orders. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s rupiah appreciated 0.21 percent to IDR 12,630 per US dollar on Wednesday (04/03). Meanwhile, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) climbed 0.45 percent to 5,315.28 points.

Lanjut baca ›

Positive macroeconomic data of Indonesia - involving the significantly lower trade deficit in 2014 and easing inflation - had a good impact on the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate on Tuesday (03/02) although prior to closing the currency somewhat slid after Australia's central bank cut its interest rates causing speculation of further policy easing around the Asia Pacific region in a move to support sluggish growth and avert deflation. Most emerging Asian currencies strengthened on Tuesday against the US dollar on stronger risk appetite.

Lanjut baca ›

The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated 0.76 percent to IDR 12,481 per US dollar on Wednesday (21/01) based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. The performance of the rupiah was in line with most other emerging Asian currencies as Japan’s yen strengthened (against the US dollar) after Japan’s central bank announced to maintain an accommodative monetary policy in an attempt to boost inflation to two percent (y/y). Furthermore, speculation about quantitative easing in Europe boosted attractiveness of riskier Asian assets.

Lanjut baca ›

The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated on Wednesday (14/01) as global oil and other commodity prices continued to fall thus casting a negative spell on Indonesia’s currency. The rupiah depreciated 0.11 percent to IDR 12,614 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Market participants are concerned about the negative influence of low commodity prices on Indonesia’s export performance. Southeast Asia’s largest economy has had to cope with a wide trade and current account deficit in recent years.

Lanjut baca ›

In line with the performance of other Asian emerging currencies, Indonesia's rupiah exchange rate appreciated on Monday (12/01) as the fall in US wages (released late last week) caused speculation that the Federal Reserve will - for now - delay its plan to start raising US borrowing costs. Despite solid growing US non-farm payrolls in December 2014, US wages (average hourly earnings) fell the most in eight years. Indonesia’s rupiah appreciated 0.38 percent to IDR 12,599 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index.

Lanjut baca ›

As several Asian stock indices rebounded on Wednesday (07/01) Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) was able to rise as well. Investors purchased Indonesian blue chips which were considered relatively cheap after two days of decline. However, this may be speculative (short-term) buying as there are still no real domestic or foreign factors that can provide structural support. As such, there is a real possibility that Indonesia’s benchmark index will be back into red territory tomorrow.

Lanjut baca ›

Both the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and stocks continued to fall on Tuesday (06/01) as global conditions remained unconducive. Indices on Wall Street had declined sharply yesterday as the global oil prices fell below USD $50 per barrel fueling concerns about a weaker global economy. Similarly, most Asian stock indices declined as Japan's yen appreciated and energy stocks were sold by investors. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.98 percent to 5,169.06 points.

Lanjut baca ›

Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell 0.43 percent to 5,220.00 points on Monday (05/01) amid profit taking on a relatively quiet trading day on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.55 percent to IDR 12,614 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index as concerns about Greece exiting the euro intensified and boosted US dollar demand. Moreover, market participants were still reacting to Indonesia’s latest trade and inflation data.

Lanjut baca ›