In line with the performance of US stocks overnight, Asian stocks plunged to a six-week low on Wednesday morning (14/09), while Asian currencies are under similar pressure. Investors have become increasingly concerned about weaker-than-estimated growth, while confidence in central banks' efforts to boost economies fades. Meanwhile, there remains a high degree of uncertainty about a looming interest rate hike in the United States. In Asia losses were extended as higher bond yields and excessive volatility encourage investors to unwind positions.

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As expected, emerging markets in Asia, including Indonesia, were negatively affected by the speech of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen in Jackson Hole last week. Her speech - touching the topics of solid new jobs creation - provided ammunition for analysts and investors to raise speculation about a near-term US Fed Funds Rate hike. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.25 percent to 5,370.76 points, while the Indonesian rupiah depreciated 0.42 percent to IDR 13,267 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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Most Asian stocks slid on Monday (22/08) as there occurred renewed speculation about a Fed Funds Rate hike in September 2016 after hawkish statements from Federal Reserve officials, while crude oil prices fell nearly 2 percent in Asian trade after Iraq indicated that it seeks to boost exports, hence effectively snapping a seven-day winning streak. However, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) was up 0.21 percent to 5,427.17 points on the first trading day of the new week.

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A new online information service - "Go Public" - has now been launched by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in five cities - Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), Bandung (West Java), Semarang (Central Java) and Medan (North Sumatra) - in an effort to inform privately-held companies about the advantages of listing on the IDX through an initial public offering (IPO). Tito Sulistio, General Director of the IDX, informed that one matter that blocks companies from undertaking an IPO is that this corporate move is believed to be complicated, costly, and time-consuming.

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Amid mixed Asian stock markets, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) surged a whopping 1.67 percent on Thursday (18/08), one day after Indonesian markets were closed for Independence Day celebrations. Investors' risk appetite improved markedly after the Federal Reserves' July minutes signaled that it will still take a while before the US central bank is ready to implement another interest rate hike. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government proposed a realistic 2017 State Budget to the nation's House of Representatives.

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Contrary to the positive performance of most emerging market stocks, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell more than one percent on Monday (15/08). While other markets were supported by advances in crude oil prices and a rally in Chinese shares, Indonesian shares declined on the nation's weak trade data that were released by Indonesia's Statistics Agency today. Investors were eager to use this opportunity to engage in profit taking as the Jakarta Composite Index nearly touched a record-high level after an impressive recent rally.

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Indonesian assets made a remarkable performance on Monday (01/08). Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index surged 2.79 percent to 5,361.58 points, while the rupiah appreciated 0.50 percent to IDR 13,047 per US dollar. Indonesian stocks - by far - outperformed their counterparts in other Asian Pacific nations. Overall, the majority of Asian stocks rose today on the back of waning expectations of another US interest rate hike in the near future.

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After being in green territory for almost the entire trading day, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index suddenly plunged into deep red in the last 1.5 hours of trading on Friday (29/07). HM Sampoerna, one of the largest companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization, shocked analysts by plunging 9.70 percent. Another huge company, Unilever Indonesia also put severe pressure on the Jakarta Composite Index by plunging 5.75 percent on Friday.

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Positive sentiments caused by the Group of 20 economies meeting in China have waned, hence most Asian stocks are lower on Tuesday (26/07). Instead, negative sentiments are caused by falling shares on Wall Street overnight as well as the declining crude oil price (touching a near three-month low). Market participants are also in 'wait and see-mode' ahead of the Federal Reserve's July two-day policy meeting (that starts later today) and the two-day policy meeting of the Bank of Japan that starts on Thursday.

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Not only the Indonesian government - through its tax amnesty program - but also the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) offers incentives. Tito Sulistio, General Chairman of the IDX, said initial listing fees are scrapped for those companies that conduct an initial public offering (IPO) before 31 March 2017. It is no coincidence that this incentive is valid until 31 March 2017 (the same day Indonesia's tax amnesty program expires). The Indonesian government and market regulators all seem on the same page: attract capital inflows, deepen capital and financial markets, and - more generally - boost Indonesia's economic growth.

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Despite mixed European and American markets on Wednesday (23/01) and declining Asian markets on Thursday (23/01) as these responded to weak Chinese manufacturing data and South Korea's Q4-2013 GDP outcome, it was unable to block Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) from extending its upward movement. The IHSG was supported by various positive company releases, including financial results of 2013, capital expenditure announcements, and new products or services releases.

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The upward revision of the IMF's outlook for global economic growth (raised to 3.7 percent) was able to boost several commodity prices. This then was a reason for investors to purchase mining stocks, which made a positive impact on the performance of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) on Wednesday (22/01). Stocks in the consumer and trade sectors were also popular as speculation emerged that demand for consumer goods will rise due to the severe floods in several cities in Indonesia.

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The forming of a morning doji star indeed indicated that there was potential for continued upward movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) despite the profit taking actions that emerged and limited the gain of the index (particularly those stocks that went into the overbought area). Factors that contributed positively to today's (21/01) performance of the Jakarta Composite Index were rising Asian stock markets and a rebound in commodity stocks as a number of commodities recorded slightly higher prices.

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The movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) on today's trading day (20/01) was rather volatile. Investors returned to the market after the fall of the index was limited at the end of last week. However, China's slowing economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 (7.7 percent) brought negative market sentiments. Still, foreign investors were net buyers of Indonesian stocks today and in combination with an appreciating rupiah exchange rate, the index rose 0.44 percent to 4,431.57 points.

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After Bank Panin Syariah became Indonesia's first newly listed company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the year 2014, it was quickly followed by four more listings in this past week. On Thursday (16/01), three new listings were conducted - Asuransi Mitra Maparya (ASMI), Bank Ina Perdana (BINA) and Capitol Nusantara Indonesia (CANI) - as well as one relisting - Tunas Alfin (TALF). The latter had delisted from the Surabaya Stock Exchange in December 2009 after the exchanges of Jakarta and Surabaya merged into the IDX.

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On Thursday's trading day (16/01), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell victim to profit taking after two days of sharp gains (although the index did not came close to its gap at 4,393-4,398 points). The index was also pulled down due to the World Bank's pessimistic forecast for growth of Indonesia's economy as well as today's mixed Asian stock indices. Lastly, the continued Indonesia rupiah exchange rate depreciation contributed to negative market sentiments.

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Despite our concern that Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) would be susceptible to profit taking after the national holiday on Tuesday (14/01) as the IHSG rose signficantly on Monday (13/01), it continued its rise on Wednesday (15/01). The IHSG was supported by positive Asian indices that were influenced by strong US and European stock markets after the release of positive economic data in the USA and Europe. The depreciating rupiah exchange rate, however, limited the IHSG's gain.

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ICRA Indonesia, an independent credit rating agency and subsidiary of ICRA Ltd. (associate of Moody's Investors Service), publishes a monthly newsletter which provides an update on the financial and economic developments in Indonesia of the last month. In the December 2013 edition, a number of important topics that are monitored include Indonesia's inflation rate, the trade balance, the current account deficit, the IDR rupiah exchange rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Below is an excerpt of the newsletter:

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Although Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) ended the first trading session down, it recovered in the second half of Wednesday's trading day (08/01). Investors were eager to buy stocks that have experienced a significant correction since May 2013. Moreover, as the Indonesia Stock Exchange reduced trading sizes to 100 shares per lot from 500 shares (to increase market liquidity and attract more retail investors), investors were able to benefit from these premium prices.

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As expected, the Jakarta Composite Index (abbreviated IHSG) continued its downward trend amid falling global indices. From the start of Tuesday's trading day (07/01), the IHSG had to face pressures resulting in foreign net selling. Apart from the weakening rupiah exchange rate, negative market sentiments were caused by the Goldman Sachs Group and JP Morgan Chase & Co that both downgraded emerging market economies. This led to a correction on Asian stock markets.

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