The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its key interest rate (BI rate) at 6.75 percent at the April policy meeting. This decision was in line with expectations. During the three policy meetings conducted in the January-March 2016 period Bank Indonesia had already cut its BI rate by a combined 75 basis points as inflation and the current account deficit are under control, while the Indonesian rupiah has been strengthening against the US dollar since the start of 2016. Last week, Bank Indonesia announced it will adopt the seven-day reverse repurchase rate (reverse repo) to replace the existing BI rate as the bank's key monetary tool.

Lanjut baca ›

Credit disbursement in Indonesia's banking sector grew at its slowest pace in six years in the first quarter of 2016. This weak performance is attributed to the slowdown in the country's real sector. Muliaman D. Hadad, Chairman of Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK), said credit expansion grew 10 percent (y/y) to IDR 4,084 billion (approx. USD $300 billion) in Q1-2016. However, Hadad remains optimistic that credit expansion will accelerate in the second half of the year in line with forecasts for accelerating GDP growth. This will be a better context for businesses to expand.

Lanjut baca ›

With all eyes on the two-day policy meeting of the Federal Reserve, we could almost forget that the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) will also hold its monthly policy meeting today. Similar to the topic discussed in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting (16-17 September), Bank Indonesia may consider raising its key interest rate (BI rate) as a Fed Fund Rate hike would trigger capital outflows, while Indonesia’s inflation rate remains high and the rupiah is fragile.

Lanjut baca ›

Tomorrow (13/03), Bank Indonesia will hold its next Board of Governor's Meeting to discuss general policies in the monetary field. As usual, market participants are highly interested in the central bank's assessment of the country's economic fundamentals and interest rates policy. However, predictions about Bank Indonesia's stance toward its benchmark interest rate (BI rate) are mixed. Some expect it to be kept at 7.50 percent as inflation has been under control. Others anticipate a 0.25 percent hike due to the country's weak exports.

Lanjut baca ›

Indonesia Investments updated the analysis of Indonesia's inflation rate in our Macroeconomic Indicators section. Indonesian inflation, which is traditionally more volatile and higher (due to robust economic growth) than in advanced countries or other emerging markets, accelerated recently after administered price adjustments in mid-2013 (particularly higher fuel prices). As a result, Bank Indonesia required to raise its benchmark interest rate (BI rate) gradually from 5.75 percent in June 2013 to 7.50 percent in November 2013.

Lanjut baca ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) expects that credit growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy will not exceed 20 percent (year on year) by the end of December 2013. Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Halim Alamsyah, stated that credit growth is likely to slow to between 15 and 17 percent (yoy) in 2013 (based on a fixed rupiah exchange rate). Credit growth especially slowed in Indonesia’s consumption and construction sectors; a trend which is expected to continue in 2014.

Lanjut baca ›

In Bank Indonesia's Board of Governors' meeting - held on Thursday (12/12) - it was decided to keep the country's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent. Executive Director of Bank Indonesia's Communication Department Difi A. Johansyah said that the current rate of 7.50 percent is in line with the institution's inflation target of 4.5 percent (plus or minus one percent). The lending facility and deposite facility (Fasbi) rates are also maintained at 7.5 percent and 5.75 percent respectively.

Lanjut baca ›

The Indonesian rupiah continued its downward spiral on Monday morning (25/11). The central bank's mid rate fell 0.14 percent to IDR 11,722 per US dollar. Last week, the rupiah fell amid negative market sentiments brought on by the result of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting. The result seems to indicate that it will not take long before the quantitative easing program will be wound down. Contrary to the Australian dollar as well as the Indian rupee, news about the forthcoming financial reformation in China is unable to the support the rupiah.

Lanjut baca ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) has raised its benchmark interest rate (BI rate) and deposit facility rate (Fasbi) by 25 basis points to 7.25 percent and 5.50 percent respectively on Thursday (12/09). It is the fourth time since June that Bank Indonesia raised the interest rate. Previously, it maintained a historic low BI rate of 5.75 percent for 16 months. The increase is one of the measures taken to control inflation, stabilize the rupiah exchange rate and to ensure that the current account deficit is managed to a sustainable level.

Lanjut baca ›

According to Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia), the higher benchmark interest rate (BI rate) will slow down credit growth in the Indonesian banking sector from a current pace of 19.6 percent (after second week of August 2013) to around 18 percent. The BI rate was raised to 7.0 percent last week. Besides the BI rate, both the lending facility rate and the deposit facility rate (Fasbi) were raised to 7.0 percent and 5.25 percent respectively to support the rupiah, while curbing inflationary pressures.

Lanjut baca ›

Investment realization in Indonesia grew 30.2 percent to IDR 192.8 trillion (USD $19.8 billion) in the first six months of 2013 (compared to the same period last year). This result implies that 49.4 percent of the investment target for full 2013 has been achieved. The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) aims to collect IDR 390.3 trillion in investments this year. This target is divided in domestic direct investment (DDI) of IDR 117.7 trillion and foreign direct investment (FDI) of IDR 272.6 trillion.

Lanjut baca ›

Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) increased 3.98 points to close at 4,724.41 on the last trading day (19/07). During last week, the index rose a limited 1.97 percent amid the context of a weakening IDR rupiah (Indonesia's currency even fell below the psychological boundary of IDR 10,000 against the US dollar). The IHSG's performance last week was mainly supported by rising shares in the country's finance, property, construction and metal mining sectors, while the cement and plantation sectors were corrected.

Lanjut baca ›

Indeks harga saham gabungan (IHSG) ditutup naik tipis pada hari perdagangan terakhir minggu ini (19/07). Indeksnya naik 0.08 persen ke level 4,724.41. Naiknya tipis saja karena indeks IHSG tidak didukung oleh pasar-pasar Asia yang sebagian besar turun karena para investor mencari untung setelah indeks-indeks cukup menguat selama minggu ini gara-gara pernyataan Ben Bernanke yang bilang program Quantitative Easing akan berlanjut selama ekonomi Amerika Serikat belum cukup sembuh. Ini melestarikan iklim bunga yang rendah.

Lanjut baca ›

Although the main stock index of Indonesia (IHSG) ended on a positive note last Friday (05/07) by rising 0.46 percent to 4,602.81, foreign investors still sold a net IDR 262 billion (USD $26.5 million) worth of shares, while the value of transactions in the regular market was only IDR 3.17 trillion (USD $320.2 million). The rise of the IHSG at the end of last week was more due to support from Asian indices that were up after the European Central Bank and Bank of England kept interest rates at 0.5 percent.

Lanjut baca ›

Without any support from the United States, where Wall Street was closed due to the 4th of July festivities, stock indices in Europe found their way up. President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, caused positive market sentiments after stating that the interest rate will remain low for a long while and that the current monetary (easing) policy will remain unchanged. Stock indices in Germany, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands went up between 2.1 and 3.1 percent on Thursday's trading day (04/07).

Lanjut baca ›

Less than 24 hours after having raised the overnight deposit facility rate (known as Fasbi) by 25 bps to 4.25 percent, Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) also raised its benchmark interest rate (known as the BI rate) by 25 bps to 6.0 percent. Both these policy responses were conducted in order to support the IDR rupiah, which is one of the worst performing Asian currencies against the US dollar in 2013. Indonesia's central bank expects growing inflationary pressures as the Indonesian government intends to cut fuel subsidies this June.

Lanjut baca ›

In the first five months of 2013, Indonesia’s main stock index (IHSG) rose 16.62 percent to a near record high level at 5,068.63 points on Friday (31/05/13). Initially, both analysts and investors were concerned that Indonesia would experience its traditional ‘May Cycle’, the term which refers to the usual fall of Indonesia’s index in the month of May. However, reality proved different as the index recorded a small gain of 7.71 points (0.15 percent) last month.

Lanjut baca ›

Despite strong American and European indices (which impacted positively on most Asian stock indices), Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) continued its two-day weakening trend. Standard & Poor's decision to downgrade Indonesia's BB+ credit rating outlook from positive to stable was a major reason for foreign investors to start selling their Indonesian assets. At the end of Friday's trading day (03/05/13), the index stood at 4,925.48, an 1.37 percent fall.

Lanjut baca ›