Asian stocks were mixed after opening on the first trading day of the new week. Energy stocks are mostly down due to another retreat in global oil prices. Oil prices continued Friday's slide due to ongoing concern over excessive supply after last week's US rig count grew for the first time since December 2015. This implies pressure on "commodity-driven" assets, which includes Indonesian stocks and the rupiah. The Indonesian rupiah had depreciated 0.27 percent to IDR 13,152 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index), while the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index was down 0.07 percent by 09:15 am local Jakarta time.

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Stock markets in Asia as well as Asian emerging market currencies should perform well today after the US Federal Reserve left rates unchanged at its March policy meeting. Moreover, the central bank of the world's largest economy stated that it expects fewer rate hikes in the coming months (dovish outlook) as economic recovery of the USA is still fragile amid slower global growth and turmoil in world markets linked to low oil price. As a result risk sentiment improved sharply, while the US dollar suffered losses.

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The Indonesian rupiah is extending its strong performance. On Monday morning (14/03), Indonesia's currency has been flirting with the IDR 13,000 per US dollar level. According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah had appreciated 0.48 percent to IDR 13,012 by 09:25 am local Jakarta time. The rupiah is one of the "commodity-sensitive" currencies that are feeling the positive impact of rising crude oil prices. Meanwhile, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose 0.52 percent after opening of trade on Monday.

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Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of 2016 could reach 5 percent (or more) year-on-year provided that the government manages to optimize spending on infrastructure projects and improve people's purchasing power. Large drops in domestic car and motorcycle sales so far this year show that Indonesia's purchasing power remains bleak. Other indicators - such as cement and retail sales - are also not too strong. Firmanzah, economist at the Paramadina University, said the 0.09 percent (m/m) deflation that occurred in February could be a sign of further weakening purchasing power.

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The Indonesian rupiah is flirting with the IDR 13,000 per US dollar level on Monday (07/03) supported by improving risk appetite of investors. By 13:40 pm local Jakarta time, the currency of Indonesia had appreciated 0.64 percent to IDR 13,047 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). The rupiah is now on a 13-day 'winning streak', its longest rally in six years, and is the second-best performing emerging market currency after Brazil's real so far this year. What is behind this good performance, and is it sustainable?

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Indonesia's state bonds are expected to remain a popular investment instrument in the second quarter of 2016 - perhaps even the most popular instrument - due to stable and more attractive yields compared to other investment instruments. Although the Indonesian rupiah and the benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) have both strengthened markedly over the past week (particularly supported by higher crude oil prices), the global economy remains plagued by uncertainties (China's economic slowdown and possible higher borrowing costs in the USA). Analysts say that in this context investor appetite for Indonesian bonds increases.

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The Indonesian rupiah has become the center of attention being the strongest emerging market currency (tracked by Bloomberg) so far this year. Indonesia's currency has appreciated 4.97 percent (spot market) against the US dollar since the start of 2016, outperforming the Brazilian real and Malaysian ringgit. Meanwhile, Indonesian government and central bank officials say they are committed to encourage further strengthening of the rupiah. On Friday (04/03), Bank Indonesia's benchmark rupiah rate (Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate, abbreviated JISDOR) appreciated 0.76 percent to IDR 13,159 per US dollar.

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The Indonesian rupiah continues to appreciate sharply. By 13:15 pm local Jakarta time on Friday (04/03), Indonesia's currency had appreciated 0.96 percent to IDR 13,105 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index), its strongest level since May 2015. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia's benchmark rupiah rate (Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate, abbreviated JISDOR) appreciated 0.76 percent to IDR 13,159 per US dollar. What explains this strong performance of the rupiah?

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In line with the overall trend in Asia, the Indonesian rupiah continued to appreciate against the US dollar on Wednesday (02/03). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index the rupiah strengthened 0.34 percent to IDR 13,301 per US dollar, touching a four and a halve-month high and recording its longest winning streak since 2010. Over the past ten trading days the rupiah has been appreciating against the greenback. What made the Indonesian rupiah strengthen today?

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Most Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday (23/02) on extended concerns about the world's low crude oil prices and China's economic slowdown. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) plunged 1.16 percent to 4,654.05 points, leading declines in Asia as the nation's banking shares were also affected by local financial authorities' plans to curtail the net interest margin in order to bring down Indonesian banks' lending rates and boost credit expansion in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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Stock markets in the Asia Pacific were down on Tuesday (16/09) as investors are awaiting the results of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) today (Wednesday 17/09) and are focused on the condition of the Chinese economy. Moreover, investors were disappointed to hear that next Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will appoint 16 party politicians to lead ministries in his cabinet (which is in contrast with his initial plan to appoint technocrats). Lastly, the Indonesian rupiah exchange continued to depreciate.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.54 percent to IDR 11,822 per US dollar in the past week (based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index). Several internal and external factors influenced the currency’s performance over the past week, such as increased US dollar demand from local Indonesian companies, Bank Indonesia’s decision to leave the BI rate unchanged and the improving US economy. Lastly, the structural current account deficit (triggered by expensive oil imports) remains a problem for investors.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its key interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent for the tenth consecutive month as inflation is under control and well within the year-end target of the central bank (3.5-5.5 percent). The lending facility and deposit facility were kept at 7.50 percent and 5.75 percent, respectively, at Thursday’s Board of Governor’s Meeting (11/09). The central bank also expects that the current interest rate environment is capable of curbing the country’s wide current account deficit.

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The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) declined 0.92 percent to 5,136.86 points on the last trading day of the week. Seven of the ten sectorial indices fell, led by the finance sector (-1.66 percent), followed by consumer goods (-1.50 percent) and manufacturing (-1.34 percent). The main reason for this poor performance is that investors are again looking at the true fundamentals of the Indonesian economy instead of optimism about Joko Widodo becoming Indonesia’s seventh president.

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The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) rose 0.37 percent to 5,184.48 on Thursday’s trading day (28/08) on increased expectation that the transition from the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) government to the Joko “Jokowi” Widodo government will be smooth and efficient evidenced by the pair's meeting in Bali to discuss various matters regarding the transfer of power. For investors, this meeting led to increased optimism. Stocks in the property and miscellaneous sectors led the gain.

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The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) fell 0.14 percent to 5,198.90 points on the last trading day of the week, the first day of decline in five trading days, as investors engaged in profit taking after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court confirmed the official election result of the General Elections Commission (KPU) that announced Joko Widodo as winner of the July 2014 presidential election. Next week investors may continue profit taking as the index is still overbought.

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Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) climbed 0.31 percent to 5,206.14 points on Thursday's trading (21/08) on speculation that Indonesia’s Constitutional Court will reject defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s claim that the official July 2014 presidential result is illegal due to massive violations. Although the Court is still reading out the verdict, it has already indicated that evidence for violations is incomplete and unconvincing. Therefore, a Court decision that calls for revoting has become unlikely.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced two important matters on Thursday (14/08). Firstly, the institution decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent, the overnight deposit facility rate (Fasbi) at 5.75 percent, and the lending facility rate at 7.50 percent. Secondly, it announced that Indonesia’s current account deficit widened to USD $9.1 billion, or, 4.27 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2014, a widening that is larger than initially forecast.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate had appreciated 0.38 percent to IDR 11,758 per US dollar on Monday (04/08) according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index by 15:40 pm local Jakarta time. Although the rupiah had appreciated to a stronger level (IDR 11,713) earlier on Monday, the currency slightly rebounded after Statistics Indonesia announced that the country posted a USD $300 million trade deficit in June 2014, thereby placing more pressure on the nation’s current account balance.

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Indonesian stocks and the rupiah exchange rate showed great volatility on Tuesday’s trading day (22/07). In the first part of the day the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index of IHSG) and rupiah strengthened on speculation that market favourite Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would win the presidential election without riots or other incidents that could trigger political uncertainties. On Tuesday evening, the General Elections Commission (KPU) indeed officially declared Jokowi the winner of the election.

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