The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and benchmark stock index (IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) both plunged severely after the US Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday (19/03) to cut another USD $10 billion from its bond-buying program (quantitative easing). Moreover, speculation arose that US interest rates may increase in 2015 (the US central bank had kept interest rates close to zero for over five years to stimulate economic growth). It led to tumbling stocks, bonds and currencies across Asia on Thursday (20/03).

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Amid a political crisis in the Ukraine, the oil price has risen significantly and the US dollar is appreciating against other currencies, particularly emerging market currencies, including the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate. Besides the US dollar, demand for other safe havens (gold, yen as well as US Treasuries) also increased due to Russian presence in the Ukraine (Crimea peninsula). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah had depreciated 0.35 percent to IDR 11,632 per US Dollar at 11:40 a.m. local Jakarta time.

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Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated 0.15 percent to IDR 11,647 per US dollar on Wednesday (26/02). All through the day, the currency traded within a fairly narrow trading range, possibly due to market participants' wait and see attitude ahead of the release of important US economic indicators. As the US economy is improving and the US unemployment rate is declining, the Federal Reserve may wind down its quantitative easing program in a more aggressive manner soon.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.14 percent to IDR 11,665 per US dollar on Tuesday (25/02) based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. The currency's depreciation was due to US dollar demand from Indonesian importers while offshore funds engaged in profit taking as the rupiah is the best performer in February 2014 among 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg (against both the euro and US dollar). The rupiah is also the best-performing Asian currency this year so far.

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Indonesia's rupiah exchange rate continues its sharp appreciation on Valentine's day (14/02). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the currency was up 0.80 percent to IDR 11,880 per US dollar at 9:56 local Jakarta time. Yesterday (13/02), the rupiah had recorded a 0.89 pecent gain. This recent appreciating trend of the rupiah is caused by international investors' renewed confidence in Indonesia's macroeconomic fundamentals. Particularly the improvement in the country's current account deficit is well received by investors.

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The performance of the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate on Friday morning (10/01) was rather stagnant against the US dollar (the latter's movement was mixed against currencies in the Asia-Pacific) although the rupiah was up 0.12 percent to IDR 12,178 per US dollar at 13:42 local Jakarta time based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Positive sentiments are caused by Indonesia's narrowing current account deficit (possibly less than 3 percent of GDP in Q4-2013) and rising foreign exchange reserves at end-December 2013.

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The Indonesia rupiah exchange rate is moving sideways on Wednesday's trading day (08/01). At 13:00 local Jakarta time, the rupiah was down 0.02 percent to IDR 12,240 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index. This morning the US dollar slightly depreciated against most Asian currencies after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said to plan to upgrade its forecast for global economic growth as the US economy improves. Yesterday, Indonesia held Asia's largest US dollar-denominated bonds since 1998.

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In line with most other Asia-Pacific currencies, the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate continued its depreciating trend against the US dollar on Tuesday morning (07/01). Market participants tend to avoid the rupiah and prefer to wait & see for international data first. For example, today's release of the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). This will inform about the stance of Federal Reserve officials on the winding down of the quantitative easing program (planned for this January).

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Ahead of the new year, the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate continues its downward trend on Monday (30/12). Bank Indonesia's Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) fell to IDR 12,270 per US dollar from IDR 12,260 on the previous trading day. Due to the improving US economy, the US dollar keeps appreciating against the majority of emerging currencies. At most local Indonesian banks, the rupiah is traded significantly above the psychological level of IDR 12,000 per US dollar.

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The Indonesia rupiah exchange rate continued its downward trend on Monday (23/12). Both Bank Indonesia's Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) and Bloomberg's Dollar Index showed a depreciating rupiah. The JISDOR, which was launched by Bank Indonesia in May to manage exchange rate fluctuations, fell 0.01 percent to IDR 12,246 per US dollar, while the Bloomberg Dollar Index indicated a 0.29 percent decline of the rupiah to IDR 12,250 per US dollar at 14:10:09 afternoon, local Jakarta time.

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On Tuesday (08/07), both the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and stocks continued where they left off yesterday. Supported by optimistic market participants speculating on a Joko Widodo victory in Wednesday’s presidential election, the rupiah appreciated 0.74 percent to IDR 11,626 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, while the country’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) rose 0.72 percent to 5,024.71 points, surpassing the psychological level at 5,000 and approaching its record high level at 5,215 (21 March 2013).

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Although Asian stock indices tended to decline on Monday’s trading day (07/07) due to profit taking amid expectation that corporate earnings in the first half of 2014 are disappointing, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) performed remarkably well as foreign investors recorded net buying and the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated sharply. The main reason why markets were positive in Indonesia on Monday was the strong performance of Joko Widodo in Saturday’s presidential debate.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated sharply on Monday (07/07) due to the strong performance of presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the presidential debate with rival candidate Prabowo Subianto last Saturday evening. Indonesian media declared Jokowi the winner of the debate because of his confident, eloquent and well-structured performance. This debate, in which the candidates were joined by their running mates, was the fifth and final one ahead of the presidential election on Wednesday 9 July.

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Emerging currencies in Asia, led by the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate, strengthened in the past week on positive economic data from the US and China, the world’s two largest economies. Companies in the US added more jobs than expected in June 2014, while manufacturing in China grew at its fastest pace in 2014. Improving economies of the US and China are important for Asian countries as it boosts Asian exports. Moreover, Indonesian inflation and trade data contributed to positive market sentiments.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated slightly on Thursday (03/07). The US dollar gained as markets reacted to Wednesday’s ADP nonfarm payrolls report which showed that 281,000 jobs were added in the US private sector in June 2014, thus exceeding expectations. Furthermore, the market is optimistic that US employment data, released later today, will be positive too. According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the currency of Indonesia depreciated 0.04 percent to IDR 11,918 per US dollar.

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Although the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) was in the red zone prior to the release of Indonesia’s June inflation figure and May trade data, at the end of the day it finished slightly in the green zone. The IHSG climbed 0.13 percent to 4,884.83 points. The macroeconomic data that were released were positive and made market participants engage in stock trading. Moreover, the index was supported by Asian stock markets that were mostly up as well as the appreciating rupiah exchange rate.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate is appreciating sharply on Monday (30/06). By 15:13pm local Jakarta time, the currency of Indonesia had strengthened 1.31 percent to IDR 11,838 against the US dollar. Main factors that cause this performance are the weakening US dollar (as a slowdown in the US economic recovery evokes expectations that the Fed Rate will not be raised soon) and falling oil prices; the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate declined 30 cents to USD $105.44 in mid-morning trade while Brent crude fell 22 cents to USD $113.08.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.07 percent to IDR 12,099 per US dollar on Thursday (26/06) based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, thus extending its recent weakening trend. This trend is expected to continue further as Bank Indonesia said it would allow rupiah depreciation in order to make the country’s exports more competitive (in an attempt to curb the current account deficit). However, this also dampens demand for Indonesian bonds. The 10-year yield rose to the highest level since February 2014.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated considerably on Wednesday (25/06) after Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) said it would allow rupiah depreciation in an attempt to boost competitiveness of the country’s exports, while curbing imports. This strategy will have a positive impact on the country’s troubled trade balance. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the currency had weakened 0.67 percent to IDR 12,070 per US dollar by 14:30pm local Jakarta time.

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The Indonesia rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.16 percent to IDR 11,992 per US dollar on Monday (23/06) according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, thus extending the currency’s recent depreciating trend. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia's benchmark rupiah rate (known as the Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate, or, abbreviated JISDOR) depreciated 0.03 percent to IDR 11,971 against the greenback. What were the factors that influenced the rupiah’s performance today?

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