In line with other Asian stock indices, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rebounded sharply on Tuesday (17/11), boosted by the performance on Wall Street overnight where the major indices rose more than one percent. Positive sentiments are caused by a big jump in oil prices, while worries about the negative impact of the terrorist attack in Paris proved unfounded. By 11:55 am local Jakarta time, the Jakarta Composite Index was up 1.59 percent to 4,512.64 points. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah had appreciated 0.12 percent to IDR 13,732 per US dollar by the same time (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) will complete its investigation into the alleged fictitious trading of coal mining firm Sekawan Intipratama's shares later this week. Results will be presented to the Financial Services Authority (OJK). The case led to the one-day suspension of trading activity of three Indonesian brokerages (Danareksa Sekuritas, Reliance Securities, and Millenium Danatama Sekuritas) on Wednesday 11 November on claims that they manipulated the miner's shares. Trading in shares of Sekawan Intipratama has been suspended since 9 November after the firm's shares tumbled 64.68 percent in a two-week period.

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On the first trading day after the terrorist attacks in Paris (leaving 129 people dead and hundreds injured), stocks declined in Asia as investors are cautious. Although markets had one weekend to digest the news, it is still expected that the tragedy in Paris will cause a sharp yet short-term impact on global equity markets. Apart from terrorism, volatile oil prices as well as concern about China's economy and uncertainty about the timing of a US interest rate hike continue to plague markets.

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Across the world, stock indices plunged on persistent concern about lower commodity prices (especially as crude oil dived to a two-month low and may start to flirt with the USD $40 per barrel level again), concern about slowing credit growth in China, while markets are also bracing for a possible US interest rate hike in December (a move that will particularly trigger capital outflows from riskier emerging market assets). This month markets are under severe selling pressure after experiencing a rally in October.

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Asian shares are facing pressures on Friday (13/11) due to lower oil prices and increasing expectation that the US Federal Reserve will raise its key Fed Fund Rate by 25 basis points in December. Resource stocks are dragging down stock indices in Australia, Hong Kong and China by more than one percent. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index, however, is bucking the trend in Asia, having risen 0.51 percent to 4,485.12 points by 10:20 am local Jakarta time amid red indices in Asia. Meanwhile, the US dollar is strengthening against Asian currencies but not as sharply as initially predicted.

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Trading activity of three brokerages - Danareksa Sekuritas, Reliance Securities, and Millenium Danatama Sekuritas - have been reactivated by the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Thursday (12/11). One day earlier, these brokers' trading activity had been suspended on claims that the firms are involved in fictitious trading, worth around IDR 350 billion (approx. USD $26 million), related to shares of publicly-listed coal mining firm Sekawan Intipratama. Allegedly, the three brokers have manipulated the miner's shares.

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Shares in Asia are expected to be under some pressure today as crude oil prices slid 2.9 percent overnight after the American Petroleum Institute released a report that stated US supplies grew unexpectedly by 6.3 million barrels. Other commodity prices were also down after the release of downbeat industrial output data from China on Wednesday. However, with China's positive October retail sales (posting the strongest gain of the year) there are few chances of seeing new massive stimulus from Chinese authorities. As such 'bad news' is no 'good news'.

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Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index climbed 0.01 percent to 4,451.59 points on Wednesday (11/11) despite foreign investors recording a net sell of IDR 614.4 billion (approx. USD $45.5 million). Uncertainty persists in the global economy as more macroeconomic data from China signal weaknesses in the world's second-largest economy. Growth in output from China's factories declined to a six-month low in October (missing expectations), following earlier disappointing trade and inflation data. On the other hand, it triggers hope that Beijing will step up stimulus measures.

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Most stock indices in Asia fell on Tuesday's trading day (10/11) on concern that China's stalling economy negatively impacts on the pace of global economic growth, while markets are also bracing for a looming US interest rate hike before the year-end. Moreover, sentiments in Southeast Asia are not positive as the majority of Q3-2015 earnings reports have been unfavorable. Combined, it triggers a flight to safer haven assets. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.08 percent to 4,451.05 points.

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Shares in the Asia-Pacific were mixed after opening on Monday (09/11). While, Japanese shares touched a fresh 2.5 month high on a weaker yen and Chinese shares went up (despite disappointing trade data), shares in Indonesia, South Korea and Australia were down. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell approximately 0.50 percent after opening on Monday, while the Indonesian rupiah had depreciated 0.83 percent to IDR 13,676 per US dollar by 09:16 am local Jakarta time.

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The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) climbed slightly on Monday (18/08), not being impacted - as we feared earlier - by mixed stock indices on Wall Street and Europe on Friday (15/08). Increased speculation about widening Chinese monetary policy in the country’s property sector made a good impact on Asian stock indices, including Indonesia’s IHSG. At the end of the trading day, the IHSG had strengthened 0.15 percent to 5,156.75 points, also supported by the appreciating rupiah (Bank Indonesia’s mid-rate).

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Weakening global stock indices meant that it would be difficult for the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) to continue its upward movement on Tuesday (05/08). Moreover, there were few positive sentiments originating from the Archipelago as Indonesia’s Q2-2014 GDP growth (+5.12 percent year-on-year) was below expectation and the country’s trade balance showed a deficit of USD $300 million in June 2014. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah exchange appreciated slightly.

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Indonesian stocks and the rupiah exchange rate showed great volatility on Tuesday’s trading day (22/07). In the first part of the day the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index of IHSG) and rupiah strengthened on speculation that market favourite Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would win the presidential election without riots or other incidents that could trigger political uncertainties. On Tuesday evening, the General Elections Commission (KPU) indeed officially declared Jokowi the winner of the election.

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One day ahead of the official result of the Indonesian presidential election, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) showed a good performance as market participants seem to speculate not only on a Joko Widodo win, but also on a peaceful and orderly course of events (no large scale demonstrations or riots). On Sunday, president Yudhoyono received both presidential candidates at the State Palace for dinner. This may have helped to cool some of the tension between supporters of both sides.

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Despite China’s positive economic growth of 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2014, most Asian stock indices were down. Only Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) managed to show a slight gain as large cap stocks were sought after. The HSI impacted positively on the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) on Wednesday (16/07) which climbed 0.85 percent to 5,113.93 points on Wednesday (16/07). Foreign investors recorded net buying.

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Although the benchmark stock index (known as Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) started the day in the green zone, it ended down due to profit taking as market participants prefer to wait for the official result of the Indonesian presidential election first. Both presidential candidates (Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto) declared a victory based on different unofficial quick count results. This has resulted in political uncertainty in Southeast Asia’s largest economy and thus investors refrain from buying Indonesian assets.

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ICRA Indonesia, an independent credit rating agency and subsidiary of ICRA Ltd. (associate of Moody's Investors Service), publishes a monthly newsletter which provides an update on the financial and economic developments in Indonesia of the last month. In the June 2014 edition, a number of important topics that are monitored include Indonesia's inflation rate, the trade balance, the BI rate, the IDR rupiah exchange rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Below is an excerpt of the newsletter:

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Initially we were concerned that Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) would experience a sudden change of direction - after two days of strong gains at the start of the week - because the preliminary results of the 2014 Indonesian presidential election (based on unofficial quick counts) was mixed at first glance and thus triggers political uncertainty (something which is seriously disliked by investors). However, the index performed remarkably well and rose 1.46 percent to 5,098.11 points on Thursday (10/07).

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As all spotlights this week were - and still are - focused on the 2014 Indonesian presidential election, it almost passed unnoticeably that five Indonesian companies will be listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) this week. If all these listings will go according to schedule, then the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2014 will increase to 18 by the end of the week. The five companies are: Batavia Prosperindo Internasional, Magna Finance, Mitrabara Adiperdana, Bank Dinar Indonesia, and Sitara Propertindo.

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Although Asian stock indices tended to decline on Monday’s trading day (07/07) due to profit taking amid expectation that corporate earnings in the first half of 2014 are disappointing, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) performed remarkably well as foreign investors recorded net buying and the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated sharply. The main reason why markets were positive in Indonesia on Monday was the strong performance of Joko Widodo in Saturday’s presidential debate.

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