15 January 2020 (closed)
USD/IDR (13,648) -10.00 -0.07%
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While the Indonesian rupiah rate had retreated against the US dollar in November 2019 amid an increase in uncertainty in international markets, the Indonesian currency managed to end the year 2019 on a positive note.
The Indonesian rupiah rate appreciated modestly in September 2019. The currency started the month at the level of IDR 14,237 per US dollar and ended the month at IDR 14,174 per US dollar (data taken from Bank Indonesia’s benchmark Jisdor rate). In other words, the rupiah strengthened 0.44 percent against greenback in the month of September 2019.
Emerging market assets in Asia remained under pressure on Thursday (16.05.2019), with risk appetite being particularly undermined by rising concerns over USA-China trade tensions.
The Indonesian rupiah made a stable performance against the US dollar in February 2019. The benchmark JISDOR rate of Bank Indonesia ended the second month of the year at the position of IDR 14,062 per US dollar, appreciating modestly from the level of IDR 14,072 per US dollar at the last trading day of January 2019.
In the month of December 2018 the Indonesian rupiah weakened 0.99 percent from IDR 14,339 per US dollar on the last trading day of November 2018 to IDR 14,481 per US dollar on the last trading day of December 2018 (based on Bank Indonesia’s benchmark JISDOR rate).
On Monday (07/01) Indonesia Investments released the December 2018 edition of its monthly research report. The report aims to inform the reader of the key political, economic and social developments that occurred in Indonesia in the month of December 2018 and also touches upon key international developments that impacted on the Indonesian economy.
Although we predicted in our latest research report that Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) would raise its benchmark interest rate at the two-day monetary policy meeting on 14-15 November 2018, we were still taken by surprise after the decision was announced. After all, the rupiah had appreciated significantly in the days after the launch of our October research report.
Indonesia’s current account deficit is expected to widen to the range of 3.30 – 3.40 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2018, above the 3.0 percent of GDP threshold that is usually considered to separate a sustainable from an unsustainable deficit.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) left its benchmark interest rate (the BI 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate) unchanged at 5.75 percent at the October 2018 policy meeting (22-23 October). Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility rates were kept at 5.00 percent and 6.50 percent, respectively.
On Monday (08/10) Indonesia Investments released the September 2018 edition of its monthly research report. The report aims to inform the reader of the key political, economic and social developments that occurred in Indonesia in the month of September 2018 and also touches upon key international developments that impacted on the Indonesian economy.
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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated in August 2019. The currency started the month at the level of IDR 14,026 per US dollar, but ended the month at IDR 14,237 per US dollar (data taken from Bank Indonesia’s benchmark Jisdor rate). In other words, the rupiah weakened 1.50 percent against greenback in August 2019.
The Indonesian rupiah rate weakened against the US dollar in March 2019. Bank Indonesia’s benchmark JISDOR rate finished the third month of the year at a position of IDR 14,244 per US dollar, down 1.29 percent compared to the level of IDR 14,062 per US dollar that was set at the last trading day of February 2019. Nevertheless, compared to the start of the year, the rupiah has remained in positive territory, having appreciated 1.64 percent against the US greenback in the first quarter of 2019.
In line with expectations, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its benchmark BI 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate at 6.00 percent at the February policy meeting that was held on 20-21 February 2019. Also the deposit facility and lending facility rates were kept at 5.25 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.
The Indonesian rupiah appreciated markedly in January 2019, and reached its strongest level since the end of June last year. The benchmark JISDOR rate of Bank Indonesia ended the first month of 2019 at IDR 14,072 per US dollar, strengthening from the level of IDR 14,481 per US dollar at the last trading day of 2018. Or, in other words, the rupiah managed to appreciate 2.82 percent against the greenback in the first month of 2019.
In line with expectations, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) left its interest rates unchanged at the last monetary policy meeting of 2018 (held on 19-20 December 2018). The benchmark BI 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate was held at 6.00 percent, while the deposit facility and lending facility rates were kept at 5.25 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.
Robust rupiah appreciation in the month of November 2018 has taken many people – such as policymakers, businessmen, and analysts, including us – by surprise.
It are challenging times for businessmen and investors in Indonesia. An escalating trade war between the United States and China is felt by emerging markets including Indonesia. For example, the rupiah has weakened to a 20-year low against the US dollar. Meanwhile, Indonesia's legislative and presidential elections are scheduled for April 2019 and the results can have big consequences for the country's investment climate.
Based on the latest reports - and contrary to earlier plans - the Indonesian government will not postpone the development of 15,200 MW of power projects. Earlier the government said it wanted to delay various power projects in an effort to curtail imports, thus improve the country's current account balance and ease heavy pressures on the rupiah exchange rate.
Concerns about Indonesia's current account balance increased after Bank Indonesia announced last week that the country's current account deficit widened to USD $8.02 billion, or 3.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in the second quarter of 2018. It is Indonesia's highest quarterly deficit since Q3-2014, thus putting additional pressures on the rupiah exchange rate.
There are doubts whether Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth can reach 5.2 percent year-on-year (y/y) in full-year 2018 as Indonesia is experiencing a couple of major challenges. Challenges include the global trade war, the fragile rupiah, Bank Indonesia's higher benchmark interest rate, the current account deficit, and political tensions ahead of the 2019 legislative and presidential elections. Currently, Indonesia Investments' forecast for Indonesia's economic growth is set at 5.2 percent (y/y) in 2018.
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