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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Indonesia’s decision to raise import tariffs for food, cars, clothes as well as various other consumer goods put additional downward pressure on Indonesian stocks on the last trading day of the week (24/07). Those listed companies (retailers) that rely on imported goods saw their shares tumble as a consequence of the higher import tariffs. The Indonesian Finance Ministry raised import duties for consumer goods between 10 and 150 percent (depending on product) in a bid to boost the country’s consumer goods industry and curtail imports.

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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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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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On Tuesday (14/07), construction firm and property developer Binakarya Jaya Abadi became the 11th company to list on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2015. The company offered 150 million shares, 25 percent of its paid up capital, in an initial public offering (IPO) at an offering price of IDR 1,000 per share, thereby raising IDR 150 billion (USD $11.3 million). Despite weak market sentiments, the company’s shares rose 50 percent on its trading debut on the IDX. RHB OSK Securities was underwriter for the IPO.

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In line with the global trend, Indonesian stocks extended their gains on Tuesday morning (14/07). Most stock indices (across the globe) continue to move in green territory after debt-ridden Greece and its international creditors agreed - after a 17-hour long emergency meeting - to an austerity package that will keep Greece within the Eurozone. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) had risen 0.60 percent to 4,923.36 points by 11:45 am local Jakarta time on Tuesday.

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Indonesian stocks and the rupiah weakened further on Wednesday (08/07) due to the continuing fall of Chinese stocks (raising concerns about global economic growth) and the downward revision of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s economic growth forecasts for Indonesia in 2015. Furthermore, global uncertainty brought about by the looming Greek exit (Grexit) from the euro continues to plague markets worldwide and makes investors prefer to wait for more certain times.

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Agus Martowardojo, Governor of Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia), predicts that the current economic turmoil in the Eurozone, caused by the Greek debt crisis, will impact on the stability of developing countries, including Indonesia. Although in terms of both trade and investment there should not be a real impact originating from Greek turmoil, the perception of macroeconomic stability will be somewhat hit on the back of global uncertainty. In line with most markets, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah weakened on Monday (06/07).

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As expected Indonesian stocks as well as the rupiah weakened after the opening of trade on Monday morning (06/07). This performance is in line with the direction of other markets in Asia. The primary reason behind this performance is the result of Greece’s referendum, conducted on Sunday (05/07), in which Greek voters overwhelmingly rejected reform plans that are demanded by the country’s international creditors. This result seriously jeopardizes the future of Greece in the Eurozone.

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Although Indonesia is considered as one of the Asian economies that is particularly vulnerable to a Greek exit from the euro (‘Grexit’), Indonesian stocks and the rupiah did not decline as heavily as other emerging market assets on Monday’s trading day (29/06), the first trading day after the collapse of talks between debt-ridden Greece and its international creditors. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.82 percent to 4,882.59 points while the rupiah depreciated 0.24 percent to IDR 13,339 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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Various factors contributed to the 2.30 percent decline of the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) on Tuesday (26/11). The index in fact fell below its support level. What were the main reasons for this weak performance? Firstly, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate has been depreciating severely and causes concerns among market players. Secondly, most Asian stock indices fell as valuations climbed high and the Japanese Yen strengthened. Thirdly, European stock openings on Tuesday were weak. All these reasons together led to foreign net selling.

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The Jakarta Composite Index (Indonesia's benchmark stock index, abbreviated IHSG) made a positive start on Monday (25/11). Investors were confident amid today's rising indices throughout Asia, brought on by the record breaking Dow Jones Index on Wall Street at the end of last week. However, this market optimism failed to provide a significant boost to the IHSG as the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate continued its downward spiral. The IHSG was up 0.39 percent to 4,334.80 points at the end of Monday's trading day.

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On the last day of the trading week (22/11), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) fell 0.19 percent to 4,317.96 points thereby extending its losing streak to three days as investors remain concerned about the looming end - or at least winding down - of the Federal Reserve's monthly USD $85 billion bond buying program known as quantitative easing (QE3). Foreign investors recorded a net sell of IDR 38 billion (USD $3.3 million). The other indices in Asia were mixed. The Hang Seng and Nikkei were up but the Shanghai Composite was down.

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On Thursday's trading day (21/11/13), the Jakarta Composite Index (Indonesia's benchmark stock index, or IHSG) fell 0.56 percent to 4,326.21 points as investors are concerned seeing the result of the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which seems to indicate that the Federal Reserve's monthly USD $85 billion bond-buying program (quantitative easing) will be wound down within a couple of months. The IHSG was also negatively affected by the lower preliminary HSBC Manufacturing PMI of China.

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Amid falling Asian stock indices, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) went down 1.08 percent to 4,350.79 points on Wednesday's trading day (20/11). As has become an usual pattern, after one or two days of gain, market participants immediately engage in profit taking the following day. Investors reacted to the OECD's downgrade of its outlook for global economic growth (triggered by slowing growth in emerging markets) and to Indonesia's central bank's higher interest rate (which impacts negatively on the country's economic growth).

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Various factors contributed to the 1.34 percent rise of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (also known as the Jakarta Composite Index or the IHSG) on Monday (18/11) to 4,393.59 points. Firstly, the index was supported by other major Asian stock indices which all benefited from rising indices on Wall Street and in Europe at the end of last week. Secondly, the IHSG felt the positive impact from speculation that the government of China will reform its economy in order to spur economic growth.

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Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) was not able to continue its rebound. On Friday (15/11), the IHSG fell 0.73 percent to 4,335.45 points amid widespread profit taking. Foreign investors recorded net selling of IDR 193 billion (USD $16.9 million) on today's trading day. Moreover, investors are concerned about the impact of the higher interest rate of the central bank (7.50 percent), particularly on the property and banking sectors in the fourth quarter of 2013.

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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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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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