The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced that the country's foreign exchange reserves rose USD $4.7 billion to the level of USD $127.76 billion at the end of July 2017. Growth of forex assets was primarily attributed to foreign exchange receipts, including the government's issuance of global bonds, tax revenues and government oil & gas export proceeds. Lastly, the auction of Bank Indonesia foreign exchange bills also added forex receipts.

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In local Indonesian media it is reported that Indonesian President Joko Widodo has given his blessing to the central bank (Bank Indonesia)'s plan to redenominate the rupiah. Bank Indonesia has already prepared a draft bill on the redenomination of the Indonesian Rupiah with the aim to improve economic efficiency and to create smoother commercial transactions. While the rupiah value would remain unchanged, the draft bill eyes to remove the last three zeros on all rupiah bills and coins.

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Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) concluded its Board of Governors Meeting later than usual on Thursday evening (20/07). However, there were no surprises. At the July policy meeting Bank Indonesia decided to keep its benchmark interest rate - the 7-day reverse repurchase rate - at 4.75 percent, in line with analyst estimates. Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility were kept at 4.00 percent and 5.50 percent, respectively, effective per 21 Juli 2017.

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Since November 2016 we had seen six consecutive months of rising foreign exchange reserves in Indonesia. However, this trend ended in June 2017. The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced on Friday (07/07) that the nation's foreign exchange assets fell to USD $123.09 billion last month, from USD $124.95 billion in May 2017 (which was an all-time record high level).

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) expects Indonesia's inflation rate to rise to 4.36 percent year-on-year (y/y) by the end of 2017, a significant jump compared to the 3.02 percent (y/y) inflation rate in 2016 but still within the initial target range of Bank Indonesia (that is set at a wide range of 3 - 5 percent y/y). According to the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's annual inflation rate rose to 4.33 percent (y/y) in May, up from 4.17 percent (y/y) in the preceding month.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced the country's foreign exchange reserves rose by USD $1.7 billion to reach the new record high of USD $124.95 billion at the end of May 2017. Growth of Indonesia's foreign exchange assets was attributed to foreign exchange receipts (mainly originating from tax revenues and government oil & gas export earnings), as well as to Bank Indonesia's foreign exchange bills auction.

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Starting from March 5, 2018, Indonesian citizens as well as foreigners need to be a bit more careful when bringing foreign-denominated cash money into Indonesia. A new Bank Indonesia regulation sets a IDR 1 billion (approx. USD $75,000) ceiling on the total amount of foreign cash money an individual can bring into Indonesia.

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Sugeng, Deputy Governor of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia),  confirmed on Monday morning (08/05) that his institution has recently been intervening in the foreign exchange market in an effort to limit sharp rupiah appreciation. So far in 2017 the Indonesian rupiah has appreciated 1.11 percent against the US dollar with most of the rupiah's advance stemming from the first month of the year.

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Following the announcement last year, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) has again stated that it is to ease the minimum statutory reserves (in Indonesian: giro wajib minimum) regulations for conventional local banks (both for rupiah and foreign-denominated currencies). With this looser approach, banks can manage their liquidity more effectively, which should lead to reduced volatility on the overnight money market ("interest rate buffer").

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) said the nation's foreign exchange reserves rose to USD $121.8 billion in late March 2017 from USD $119.9 billion in the preceding month. The increase was primarily attributed to proceeds from tax collection, state revenue from the oil & gas sector, the issuance of global bonds and the auction of Bank Indonesia foreign exchange bills.

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Despite rising concerns about the slowing pace of the Indonesian economy, the deputy minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro reminded investors that Indonesia's economic growth in the third quarter of 2013 still constitutes one of the highest growth rates around the globe. Economic expansion in Q3-2013 slid to 5.6% in Southeast Asia's largest economy. With the exception of China (7.8% GDP growth in Q3-2013), Indonesia's growth continues to outpace growth in other emerging markets, such as Brazil (3.3%) and Turkey (4%).

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Amid negative market sentiments, brought on by domestic factors, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) and rupiah exchange rate plunged on Wednesday (13/11). For many investors, in particular foreign investors, Indonesia's central bank's decision to raise the benchmark interest rate (BI rate) by 25 bps to 7.50 percent yesterday (12/11) was reason to engage in stock selling. It was worsened by the continued decline of the rupiah as well as weak Asian stock indices and weak stock openings in Europe.

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Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) started Tuesday's trading day (12/11) slightly in the red. However, after the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced to have raised its benchmark interest rate (BI rate) by 25 bps to 7.50 percent, the IHSG quickly plunged. The interest rate hike is considered as a sign that Bank Indonesia is still concerned about the nation's macroeconomy, particularly Indonesia high inflation (8.32 percent yoy in October 2013). The index fell 1.38 percent to 4,380.64 points.

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Bank Indonesia decided to raise the BI rate by 25 bps to the level of 7.50 percent, with the Lending Facility rate and Deposit Facility rate raised to 7.50 percent and 5.75 percent respectively. This policy was taken in light of the persistently large current account deficit amid widespread global uncertainty. Therefore, the decision was taken in order to ensure that the current account deficit is reduced to a more sound level and inflation in 2014 returns to around 4.5±1 percent, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth.

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The Jakarta Composite index (Indonesia's benchmark stock index or IHSG) fell on Monday (11/11) amid mixed Asian markets. Not even positive finishes on Wall Street last Friday (08/11) were able to support the IHSG. Most investors seem to be waiting for results of Bank Indonesia's Board of Governor's Meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday (12/11). This meeting will provide answers about the central bank's view of the domestic economy and whether it thinks another adjustement of the BI rate is necessary.

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Indonesia's October inflation rate was well-received by investors. On Friday (01/11), Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that the country's inflation in October 2013 grew 0.09 percent. Easing inflation was mainly due to falling prices of raw foods and clothes. Year-on-year (yoy), however, Indonesia's inflation is still high at 8.32 percent, although showing a moderating trend from 8.40 percent (yoy) in September 2013 and 8.79 percent (yoy) in August 2013. Inflation had skyrocketed after subsidized fuel prices were raised by an average 33 percent in June.

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Forecasts for Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2013 and beyond have been revised down by all institutions, including the Indonesian government and central bank as well as international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Initially, the country’s economic growth was expected to reach around 6.5 percent in 2013. However, most institutions have downgraded forecasts for the country’s economic growth to below the 6.0 percent mark.

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Today (18/10), the Governor of Bank Indonesia and the Chairman of the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) signed an agreement concerning “cooperation and coordination to support task implementation at Bank Indonesia and OJK”. The agreement forms a basis for expediting and optimising coordination between both organisations in terms of their function, task and authority in light of the upcoming transfer of the banking regulation and supervision function from Bank Indonesia to OJK on 31 December 2013.

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On 12 October 2013 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors from Korea and Indonesia agreed to establish a bilateral KRW/IDR swap arrangement in the near future. The size of the swap arrangement is up to KRW 10.7 trillion/IDR 115 trillion (equivalent to USD $10 billion). The effective period of the facility will be three years, and could be extended by agreement by both sides. This Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement (BCSA) aims to promote bilateral trade and further strengthen financial cooperation, an objective of mutual interest to both countries.

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Although Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) started mixed on Wednesday (09/10), it gradually climbed as the trading day moved on. The country's benchmark interest rate (BI rate), which was kept at 7.25 percent by Bank Indonesia on Tuesday (08/10), continued to make a positive impact. However, negative market sentiments were brought on by the US shutdown as well as the downgrade of the IMF's outlook for world economic growth in 2013 and 2014. Lastly, the weakening IDR rupiah also implied negative market sentiments.

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