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 non-conducive market sentiments, there was no stopping to the Indonesia stock index (IHSG) as it managed to reach its next psychological boundary on Thursday 18 April: 5,000 points. A fall in American energy and telecommunication stocks on the previous day - after corporate data indicated less-than-expected performances in the first quarter - buried hopes that the Dow Jones Index would hit another peak. As a result Asian stock indices were mostly negative.

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Indonesia's main stock index, the IHSG, continued its rally on Wednesday 17 April due to increased US monthly Housing Starts, decreased US inflation, as well as financial results of companies that indicated revenues and net profits exceeded expectations. Moreover, the IMF upgraded its outlook for East Asia's economic, which made investors buy stocks. Within Indonesia, there was enthusiasm regarding Q1-2013 corporate results and dividend payouts, which offset uncertainties about the new fuel policy.

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Most of us expected the Jakarta composite index (IHSG) to weaken on Tuesday 16 April 2013 amid mixed Asian stock indices and significantly weakened American and European indices on Monday (that responded to reports about both China's slowing economic growth and weak economic figures of America). Moreover, bomb explosions at the finish line of the marathon of Boston were expected to complicate the performance of the IHSG. But concerns turned out in vain.

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The Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) did not make a good start on the first trading day of the new week. Similar to last week's Monday, it were falling American stock indices on Friday that impacted on Monday's IHSG performance: US Retail Sales, Michigan Consumer Sentiment, and commodity prices were topics that were not well-received by market players. Moreover, weak economic data from China made many foreign investor decide to sell their Indonesian assets.

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Last week, I discussed the composition of the ten largest Indonesian companies by market capitalization. For this week's column I have decided to zoom in on the performance of Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG), which has been highly volatile in the last week. It seems like its trend for the upcoming short-term has changed from an upward into a sideward trend. While the Dow Jones Index has been setting new records, the IHSG is showing some signs of fatigue.

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Rising American stock indices on Wednesday provided solid support for stock indices around Asia the following day, including Indonesia's main index (IHSG). Amid this global positivity, market players were eager to add stocks to their portfolios. News from Japan, China and the Indonesian central bank's announcement to maintain its low benchmark interest rate were well-received, particularly by domestic market players. It made the IHSG rise to 4,924.26, a 0.96 percent gain.

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Although most Asian stock indices went up on Wednesday (10 April 2013), the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) could not cling on to their movement. In fact, even the main index of South Korea, a country plagued by political tensions, reported a rise. The IHSG was not able to follow suit due to investors' profit taking. Foreign market participants recorded a net sell, particularly Indonesia's blue chip stocks, which caused the index to end at 4,877.48, a 0.45 percent fall.

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In its most recent report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts Indonesia to continue its robust economic growth. Last year, the economy of Indonesia expanded 6.23 percent, and according to the ADB this figure will rise to 6.4 percent in 2013 and 6.6 percent in 2014. However, since the start of April there have been some issues that are causing Indonesia's stock indices to go down. Although believed to be only temporary, it is worth taking a closer look.

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On Monday, the Dow Jones Index gained as corporate results of Q1-2013 are estimated to be good. This subsequently had a positive impact on Asian stock indices on Tuesday, including Indonesia's main index (IHSG). Moreover, positive news from both Australia and China were well-received as well as the higher metal price (reflected by Hong Kong's rising Hang Seng Index). Amid this positivity, investors took the opportunity to enlarge their stock portfolios.

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Last week Friday, American stock markets were not able to maintain a positive trend due to Nonfarm Payrolls that increased below expectation. Moreover, concerns about a spreading bird flu epidemic in China in combination with increased political tensions in Korea impacted on Monday's trading day (8 April 2013) of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG). The index had to absorb a sell-off, thus closing lower to 4,897.52, an 0.58 percent decline.

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