The Indonesian rupiah continues to depreciate on Tuesday (11/08). By 11:16 am local Jakarta time, the rupiah had depreciated 0.14 percent to IDR 13,570 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Indonesia’s currency has been touching 17-year lows due to bullish US dollar momentum ahead of looming higher US interest rates. Today, the US dollar received additional strength as China allowed its currency to weaken to a three-year low, dragging down other currencies in the Asian region.

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Stock markets in Asia are mixed on Monday (10/08) with Indonesian stocks heading downwards. In the first trading session, Indonesia’s benchmark stock market (Jakarta Composite Index) fell 0.99 percent to 4,723.19 points on weak trade data from China and positive labor data from the USA. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s rupiah is moving sideways. At 13:12 pm local Jakarta time, the rupiah was still at IDR 13,541 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, unchanged since the opening this morning.

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The Indonesian rupiah continued to depreciate on Friday (07/08). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s currency depreciated 0.09 percent to IDR 13,541 per US dollar on the last trading day of the week. As such, the rupiah continued to flirt with a 17-year low. With US nonfarm payrolls expected to improve at a steady pace, implying that an US interest rate hike may come sooner than later, the US dollar’s bullish momentum persisted. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves fell by USD $40 million in July.

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Similar to yesterday, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah are still moving cautiously on Thursday (30/07). Supported by yesterday’s rising US stocks and today’s mostly rising stocks in the Asia-Pacific region, the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index climbed 0.22 percent in the first trading session on Thursday. However, the latest statements from the US Federal Reserve also signal that a US interest rate hike is coming closer, hence giving rise to a stronger US dollar at the expense of most global currencies and the gold price.

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Indonesian stocks and the rupiah continued to weaken on the first trading day of the week, especially due to negative global market sentiments. China’s Shanghai Composite Index tumbled a staggering 8.48 percent on Monday (27/07), its worst daily percentage fall since February 2007. Furthermore, Wall Street closed broadly lower on Friday (24/07) for the fourth straight day. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah continued to depreciate against the US dollar, making Indonesian assets unattractive to foreign investors.

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According to data released by the Indonesian Finance Ministry, Indonesia collected 1.25 billion euro (approx. USD $1.4 billion) through the issuance of 10-year euro-denominated bonds, yielding at a discount of 3.555 percent, on Thursday (23/07). With incoming bids at 1.9 billion euros, it is clear that investor appetite for Indonesia’s euro-denominated bonds declined compared to the country’s first euro-denominated bond issuance in July 2014 (which was oversubscribed 6.7 times and could therefore carry a yield of 2.976 percent only).

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It is expected to be another difficult day for Indonesian stocks and the rupiah as there are few to none positive market sentiments that can support these assets on today’s trading day. Wall Street closed lower on Thursday (23/07) for the third consecutive day on disappointing financial results of several big companies, dragging down indices in the East. Commodity indices continue to fall (oil returning to bear market on resilient US output and rising OPEC supply). Meanwhile, sharp rupiah depreciation makes investors nervous.

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Again, Indonesia’s rupiah is touching the IDR 13,400 per US dollar psychological boundary. According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s currency had depreciated 0.22 percent to IDR 13,405 per US dollar at 11:22 am local Jakarta time on Thursday (23/07), a level last seen when the country was still plagued by the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998. Crossing the psychological boundary could mean Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) will intervene again to support the currency in order to safeguard people’s confidence in the currency.

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Stock trading at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) restarted on Wednesday (22/07) after the four-day Idul Fitri holiday ended. Shortly after opening on Wednesday, Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) rose 0.50 percent on investors’ optimism about the recent good performance of global stock markets after debt-ridden Greece reached an agreement with its international creditors while turmoil in Chinese stocks faded. Not long after opening, however, Indonesian shares were dragged down by other Asian indices.

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According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the Indonesian rupiah continued to depreciate on Monday (20/07). Indonesia’s currency weakened 0.31 percent to IDR 13,395 per US dollar, its weakest level since 1998 when the country was plagued by the Asian Financial Crisis. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia’s activities are still limited until Wednesday (22/07) due to a public holiday (Idul Fitri celebrations), implying that the central bank temporarily doesn't publish its Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (abbreviated: JISDOR).

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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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The rise of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) at the start of today's session was not sustained. It disappointed market participants who were hoping that Indonesia's main index would continue its upward movement supported by strengthening American and European stock indices after it became known that Cyprus will stay in the Euro-zone and the Federal Reserve will continue its bond-buying program.

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Despite global concerns, the bailout issue in Cyprus did not push Asian stock markets - including the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) - further in a downward spiral. From today's rebound of Asian stock indices we can conclude that market participants were optimistic after the meeting of the Cyprus parliament. Previously, panic emerged as imposition of fees to depositors was announced, although it is still planning only and not in effect yet.

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On Thursday's trading day, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) was tame and weakened again. Foreign market participants were mostly selling their Indonesian assets and influenced domestic investors to behave similarly. Most other Asian stock markets, however, turned positive and were followed by good European openings. It did not prevent the IHSG from losing 49.07 points, or 1.01 percent to 4,786.37. Trade volume increased, while total value of transactions decreased.

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Today, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) reached yet another new record high as most market participants used the current positive market sentiments to maintain their stock portfolios, although part of the investors also took the chance to engage in profit taking. Most Asian stock markets gained significantly which was followed by positive openings of European stock indices. Both developments impacted heavily on the IHSG.

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Apparently, yesterday's decline was only a small stumbling block for the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG). Indonesia's main indicator rebounded strongly after feeling the effects of stronger American stock indices that were positively influenced by a rise in Housing Index and Consumer Confidence. Moreover, the IHSG accelerated its gain after Asian stock markets and the opening of Europe's stock indices were positive.

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On Tuesday's trading day, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) was not able to maintain its record breaking upward movement. China's possible decision to limit credit growth in the property sector and the election in Italy contributed significantly to the decline of the IHSG. Moreover, it was influenced by poor openings of European stock markets. Investors thus decided to engage in profit taking, while waiting for further global developments.

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Despite negative influence of stock markets in America, Europe and China, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) managed to record a gain. During Friday's intraday trade, Indonesia's main indicator moved flat. However, stimulus from indices in Japan, Australia and Singapore, made it rise. Foreigners continued to buy Indonesian assets, while various companies reported good corporate results (such as Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Danamon, Bank Cimb Niaga, Hero Supermarket).

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Despite a good opening, weakening Asian stock markets dragged the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) downwards in today's trading day. At the start of the day, market participants may have hoped that Indonesia's main indicator would gain again, but a low trade volume turned it negative. Moreover, investors seem to wait for the result of Bumi Plc's shareholders meeting, and the negative opening of European stock indices contributed to the decline.

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