Stock Market Update: Indonesia Climbs, Global Markets Down on Greece
Most stock indices across the world continued to fall on Friday (26/06) on heightened concern that debt-ridden Greece will fail to reach an agreement with its international creditors. The deal is necessary for Greece to obtain bailout funds in order to avoid a default on its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due on 30 June 2015. A default could mean a Greek exit (Grexit) from the Eurozone and jeopardizes stability of the whole financial system of the region. Talks between both sides will continue into the weekend.
However, Indonesian stocks went against the general global trend. Although being in the red zone for most of the afternoon, at the end of Friday’s trading day (26/06) Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) had climbed 0.06 percent to 4,923.00 points. Part of the investor community seems to use current global uncertainty and significantly lower IHSG (which has fallen over 6 percent over the past two months) as an opportunity to purchase Indonesian blue chip stocks. For example, shares of Bank Rakyat Indonesia rose 2.70 percent, Telekomunikasi Indonesia +1.03 percent, Bank Mandiri +1 percent, and Bank Central Asia +0.56 percent.
Shares of Indonesian banks are believed to be attractive as the central bank announced to have lowered down payment requirements for the purchase of cars, motorcycles and property in a bid to boost credit growth and the economy.
Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG):
The rupiah appreciated 0.15 percent to IDR 13,308 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia's benchmark rupiah rate (Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate, abbreviated JISDOR) depreciated 0.11 percent to IDR 13,338 per US dollar on Friday (26/06).