Global credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service stated that it maintains a stable outlook for Indonesia’s sovereign and corporate debt rating in the next quarters due to the country’s healthy credit fundamentals, solid macroeconomy, and reduced political tensions. Moody’s believes that Indonesia’s fundamentals are strong enough to offset the negative impact of external pressures such as looming higher US interest rates and slowing economic growth in China. Moody’s had raised Indonesia’s sovereign debt rating to investment grade in late 2011.

Read column ›

Bank Indonesia decided to hold the key interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent in October, with the Lending Facility and Deposit Facility rates kept at 7.50 percent and 5.75 percent, respectively. This level is expected to help control inflation at 4.5±1 percent in 2014 and 4.0±1 percent in 2015, as well as to reduce the current account deficit to a more sustainable level. Despite stable domestic conditions, Bank Indonesia sees risks: contagion risk stemming from US monetary tightening and possible higher subsidized fuel prices.

Read column ›

Untuk memperkuat basis investor domestik dan memenuhi pembiayaan APBN-P 2014, pemerintah Indonesia kembali menawarkan Obligasi Negara Ritel Indonesia (ORI). Ini adalah kali ke-11, pemerintah menerbitkan ORI sejak obligasi tersebut diluncurkan pada tahun 2006. ORI berseri ORI011 tersebut mulai ditawarkan pada 1-16 Oktober 2014. Tingkat  kupon yang ditawarkan ORI011 sebesar 8,5% dengan tenor selama tiga tahun. Minimum pemesanan yang diperbolehkan adalah Rp5 juta sementara maksimum pemesanan adalah Rp3 miliar per individu.

Read column ›

Amid political uncertainty and a looming increase in US interest rates, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah exchange rate weakened considerably in the past week. Market participants are increasingly concerned about the situation in Indonesia’s parliament where a majority of political parties - named the Merah-Putih coalition (led by defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto) - is expected to undermine president-elect Joko Widodo’s reform programs as well as the democratic foundations of the country.

Read column ›