To ease pressures on the IDR rupiah, Indonesia's central bank has used about USD $2.0 billion of its foreign exchange reserves to support the currency as the country's continuing trade deficit as well as concerns about the possible increase in price of subsidized fuel in June has caused much uncertainty about the level of inflation in the near future and puts downward pressure on the rupiah. Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves fell to USD $105.2 billion in late May 2013 from USD $107.3 billion at the end of April.

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Bank Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by US $4 billion to US $108.8 in January from US $112.8 in December 2012. The current reserves translate to six months of imports and short-term government debt payments. Reasons behind the four percent decline are massive spending by Indonesia's Central Bank to support the weakening IDR rupiah in combination with overseas debt payments.

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In essence, the Indonesian rupiah showed the same performance in 2024 as it did in the previous four years, namely it continued to weaken against the US dollar, albeit (the outlook for) interest cuts in the United States did cause a sharp, yet temporary, rebound in August 2024. Shortly after that rebound, the rupiah came under heavy pressures again, which continued into the last month of 2024.

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For Indonesia’s currency and stock markets, November 2024 was not a good month. We saw some rupiah depreciation reappearing (against the US dollar) and a falling benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index, or IHSG). What this means is that market participants are nervous. And in times of nervousness, Indonesian assets are typically the first victim as participants seek safe haven assets. 

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As expected, Bank Indonesia cut the benchmark interest rate at its monetary policy meeting on 17-18 September 2024. The BI rate was cut by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.00 percent, while also lowering the deposit facility and lending facility rates by 25 bps to 5.25 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

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When global markets became really confident that the US Federal Reserve would cut its benchmark interest rate in September 2024, there occurred a sort of relief rally that is visible in Chart A below. Amid the increase in risk appetite, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah rate strengthened. Chart A shows that this rally started in late-July or early August 2024.

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It is very interesting to take a quick look at the conclusions drawn at the latest US Federal Reserve meeting (held on 30-31 July 2024), as these conclusions have a big impact on global financial markets, including the Indonesian rupiah rate (and even on monetary policy of Indonesia’s central bank, Bank Indonesia).

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As usual, we are going to take a look at the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy as policy changes in the United States (or market perceptions about approaching policy changes) impact on the Indonesian rupiah rate as well as on monetary policy that is set by Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia).

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In line with our projection, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.00 percent after its October 2023 monetary policy meeting (held on 18-19 October 2023). Meanwhile, it also raised its deposit facility and lending facility by 25 bps, each, to 5.25 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its benchmark interest rate at 5.75 percent at the two-day policy meeting on 20-21 September 2023. The lender of last resort also kept its deposit facility and lending facility rates at 5.00 percent and 6.50 percent, respectively.

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At the latest monthly monetary policy meeting (held on 24-25 July 2023) the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to keep its benchmark interest rate (the Seven-Day Reverse Repo Rate) at 5.75 percent. The lender of last resort also kept its deposit facility and lending facility rates at 5.0 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.

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At the latest monthly monetary policy meeting (held on 21-22 June 2023) the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to keep its benchmark interest rate (the Seven-Day Reverse Repo Rate) at 5.75 percent. The lender of last resort also kept its deposit facility and lending facility rates at 5.0 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.

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