Despite Global Positive Stock Indices, Indonesia's IHSG Continues its Fall
Despite strong American and European indices (which impacted positively on most Asian stock indices), Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) continued its two-day weakening trend. Standard & Poor's decision to downgrade Indonesia's BB+ credit rating outlook from positive to stable was a major reason for foreign investors to start selling their Indonesian assets. At the end of Friday's trading day (03/05/13), the index stood at 4,925.48, an 1.37 percent fall.
The IDR rupiah followed the IHSG's fall after the central bank of India lowered its interest rate from 7.50 percent to 7.25 percent. It is expected that India's step will be followed by central banks in the Asia Pacific region although Indonesia's central bank might maintain its 5.75 percent benchmark interest rate. S&P's downgrade implied that the rupiah would become pressured. Other negative market sentiments come from an expected increase in US Non-farm Payrolls and the lower US unemployment rate, as well as the statement of the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) regarding the possibility that the Eurozone's interest rate can be set below zero percent.
| Source: Bank IndonesiaEurope's stock indices were mostly up due to a rise in UK's Market Services PMI, and the lower US unemployment rate. Good corporate Q1-2013 results also contributed to the positive atmosphere (these included Adidas AG, Sky Deutschland AG, and Vallourec SA). However, there were also some companies that released weaker results (such as the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, and Hugo Boss AG). Moreover, negative market sentiments were triggered by the lower annual Producer Price Index of the Eurozone. But all these issues could not bring down the general positive atmosphere in Europe.
American indices continued their upward movement due to the increase in Nonfarm Payrolls and the country's lower unemployment rate. On the other hand, lower monthly Factory Orders and ISM non-manufacturing PMI weakened. Despite that - and despite negative news from the Eurozone (where economic growth in 2013 is expected to be lower than estimated) - the indices went up.
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