Emerging markets, such as Indonesia, have been feeling the impact of a recovering economy in the United States. Last month, the Federal Reserve announced that, if the economy of the USA continues its improving trend, it will end its quantitative easing program gradually in 2013 until a complete stop in 2014. As Indonesia is one of the emerging economies that benefited from the spillover effects of the Fed's monthly bond-buying program, the country now feels the negative impact of the possible stop to the program.

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Today, three Indonesian companies will be listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). These companies are Victoria Investama (VICO), Multipolar Technology (MLPT), and Bank Mestika Dharma (BBMD). This year so far, 21 Indonesian companies have conducted their initial public offering (IPO). Eight others are still planning to conduct one in 2013. Indonesia's stock exchange has seen large capital outflows in the last month due to international concerns about a stop to the US quantitative easing program.

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After the World Bank signaled slowing economic growth in Indonesia, American multinational financial services corporation Morgan Stanley also detects problems in Southeast Asia's largest economy. According to Jonathan Garner, chief Asia and emerging-market strategist for Morgan Stanley, Indonesia’s stock market is the most vulnerable stock market in Southeast Asia in terms of sudden capital outflows. Morgan Stanley downgraded Indonesia's equities to underweight from equal weight and labeled the country as "a relatively over-owned country".

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided today to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.0 percent. The decision was made amid concerns about the inflationary impact of a hike in subsidized fuel prices (planned this June) as well as increasing uncertainty in global financial markets as central banks' may scale back stimulus programs. The Indonesian rupiah has weakened considerably in 2013 and forms the worst performer in Asia after the Japanese yen among the 11 most-traded currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

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Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex), an integrated textile manufacturer, is offering 5.6 billion new shares (equivalent to 30 percent of its total stock equity) to the public through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The company expects to reap about IDR 1.34 trillion (USD $136.7 million) in new funds through this IPO. The offering period is from 10 to 12 June 2013 and its listing debut is scheduled for Monday 17 June 2013. Underwriter for the IPO is Bahana Securities.

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Yesterday (07/06), the main index of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG) fell by a total of 2.7 percent to close at 4,865.32 points. The size of this single day fall of Indonesia's IHSG has not been seen since November 2011 and illustrates waning confidence in Indonesia's economy. For eleven days in a row, foreign investors have been engaged in net selling as they have been concerned about ongoing uncertainty regarding the price hike of subsidized fuel, the continuing trade deficit as well as the steady fall of the IDR rupiah.

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Cipaganti Citra Graha, an Indonesian transportation company, will offer 40 percent of its stock equity to the public through an initial public offering (IPO). The company releases 2 billion shares with a nominal value of IDR 100 per share. These 2 billion shares consist of 1.75 billion new shares as well as 250 million shares that are owned by its holding company Cipaganti Global Corporindo. The company, which will be listed on 9 July 2013, will reserve 40 million shares for the employee stock allocation (ESA).

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In recent years, Astra International, one of Indonesia's largest diversified conglomerates, dominated the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in terms of market capitalization. However, it increasingly felt the competition of HM Sampoerna, Indonesia's largest tobacco company. Over the last five years, HM Sampoerna's market capitalization grew by a staggering 746.2 percent. It is also interesting to note that a  handful of Indonesian companies account for over one-third of market capitalization of Indonesia's stock exchange.

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PT Nippon Indosari Corpindo Tbk is Indonesia’s largest producer of bread products and its the country's only bread producing company that is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The company has shown robust growth in recent years due to the increased consumption of bread products by Indonesia's expanding middle class. Nippon Indosari controls a 90 percent market share in Indonesia's mass production of bread products. Its Sari Roti line of bread is a well-known brand in Indonesia.

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Market capitalization of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) has surpassed its psychological boundary of IDR 5,000 trillion (USD $512.82 billion) last week, supported by the new record high level position of the Indonesia Stock Index (IHSG) on Friday at 5,145.68 points. Up to 17 May 2013, the IHSG gained 18.41 percent this year, thus outperforming all other major stock indices in Asia except for the Philippines and Japan's Nikkei, which gained 41.64 percent this year amid an aggressive stimulus plan of the central bank of Japan.

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After being in negative territory for quite a while, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index) finished 0.13 percent higher at the end of the trading day. In line with the major stock indices in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia’s main index climbed although gains were limited as investors are concerned about failed discussions between the Greek government and its creditors in the Eurozone. However, positive sentiments were still felt due to capital injections in Indonesian state-owned companies.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated and Indonesian stocks rose on Wednesday (04/02) on the back of rallying oil prices, a successful bond auction, easing tensions in Europe, and weak US factory orders. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s rupiah appreciated 0.21 percent to IDR 12,630 per US dollar on Wednesday (04/03). Meanwhile, the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) climbed 0.45 percent to 5,315.28 points.

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Both Indonesia’s rupiah exchange rate and stocks strengthened on Tuesday (27/01) as concerns about Greece exiting the Eurozone somewhat eased while the positive market sentiments that were caused by the European Central Bank’s recently unfolded quantitative easing program are still felt. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) gained 0.33 percent to 5,277.15 points, while the rupiah appreciated 0.31 percent to IDR 12,469 per US dollar based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and Indonesian stocks gained on the last trading day of the week in line with the performance of other emerging markets. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHGS) rose 0.09 percent to 5,216.67 points, while the rupiah appreciated 0.22 percent to IDR 12,647 according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. The positive performance was mainly caused by speculation that the unexpected fall in US wages will keep the US central bank from raising its key interest rate soon.

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As several Asian stock indices rebounded on Wednesday (07/01) Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) was able to rise as well. Investors purchased Indonesian blue chips which were considered relatively cheap after two days of decline. However, this may be speculative (short-term) buying as there are still no real domestic or foreign factors that can provide structural support. As such, there is a real possibility that Indonesia’s benchmark index will be back into red territory tomorrow.

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Both the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and stocks continued to fall on Tuesday (06/01) as global conditions remained unconducive. Indices on Wall Street had declined sharply yesterday as the global oil prices fell below USD $50 per barrel fueling concerns about a weaker global economy. Similarly, most Asian stock indices declined as Japan's yen appreciated and energy stocks were sold by investors. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.98 percent to 5,169.06 points.

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Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell 0.43 percent to 5,220.00 points on Monday (05/01) amid profit taking on a relatively quiet trading day on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.55 percent to IDR 12,614 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index as concerns about Greece exiting the euro intensified and boosted US dollar demand. Moreover, market participants were still reacting to Indonesia’s latest trade and inflation data.

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On Monday (22/12), two Indonesian companies were listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Financing firm Intan Baruprana Finance, subsidiary of publicly listed heavy equipment distributor Intraco Penta, and lender Bank Agris, unit of Dian Intan Perkasa (part of Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Group). The companies are the 22nd and 23rd company to have conducted an initial public offering (IPO) on the IDX in 2014. The IDX is expecting to see one more IPO this year: Golden Plantation.

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Newly listed Impack Pratama Industri, a leading Indonesia-based building materials and plastics manufacturer, expects its net profit to grow by 10 percent in 2015 from this year’s estimated IDR 280-290 billion (roughly USD $22.8 million). Net revenue is expected to grow 10-15 percent from an estimated IDR 1.60 trillion (USD $128 million) this year. The company conducted an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) earlier this week in a move to finance further business expansion.

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Despite positive stock indices in the USA and Europe at the end of last week as well as mostly positive indices in Asia today (08/12), the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (Jakarta Composite Index, abbreviated IHSG) fell due to investors’ appetite for profit taking. Several matters made investors decide to sell their Indonesia shares, including the World Bank’s downward revision of Indonesia’s economic growth in 2015, Japan’s recession, weakening Chinese exports, and the sharply depreciating rupiah exchange rate.

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