Indonesian stocks and the rupiah are experiencing severe pressures at the start of the new trading week. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) declined 1.68 percent to 5,014.99 points (a seven-month low), while the rupiah depreciated 0.71 percent to IDR 13,385 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index on Monday (08/06). As such, the rupiah extended its record-low closing in the post Asian Financial Crisis era. Indonesian stocks and the rupiah are the worst performing Asian assets.

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The Indonesian rupiah continues to be a cause for concern as the currency immediately depreciated heavily after trading opened on Monday (08/06). Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah hit a new record-low of IDR 13,382 per US dollar in the post Asian Financial Crisis era at 9:10 am. Due to a lack of domestic and international positive sentiments only central bank intervention can support the country's ailing currency. Meanwhile, Indonesian stocks followed suit by declining 0.70 percent shortly after opening.

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Two companies announced to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) this month in order to raise funds for further business expansion. These companies are property developer Binakarya Jaya Abadi and IT solutions provider Anabatic Technologies. Up to the start of June, a total of five companies have been listed (including the relisting of Mitra Energi Persada) on the IDX this year. The IDX targets to list a total of 32 companies on the exchange this year.

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In line with other stock indices in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) has been weakening since the start of trading on Wednesday (03/06). Yesterday’s weakening indices on Wall Street, concern about rising bond yields, worries about the possibility of a default by debt-ridden Greece, and weak macroeconomic data from Indonesia have all contributed to the negative performance of Indonesian stocks so far today. By 11:15 am local time, the Jakarta Composite Index had fallen 1.42 percent.

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Industrial estate developer Puradelta Lestari, unit of Singapore-listed Sinarmas Land Ltd, was listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) on Friday (29/05) thus becoming the fifth firm to go public on the IDX in 2015. Through the initial public offering (IPO) Puradelta Lestari raised IDR 1 trillion (USD $76 million) by offering 4.8 billion shares to the public, equivalent to ten percent of the company’s enlarged capital, for a price of IDR 210 per share. On the first trading day, shares of the company rose 4.29 percent.

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Most Asian stock markets are down on Wednesday (27/05), including Indonesia’s benchmark stock index (IHSG). The IHSG was down 0.95 percent to 5,270.22 points by 14:32 pm local Jakarta time. The poor performance of stocks across Asia today followed yesterday’s falling US stock markets. The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all declined about 1 percent on US dollar strength after the release of several strong US economic data (supporting a US interest rate hike before the year-end) and heightened concerns about the debt crisis in Greece.

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Pembangunan Perumahan Properti (PP Properti), a property developer and unit of state-controlled Pembangunan Perumahan (PP), made a successful listing on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) today (19/05). Shares of PP Properti soared 35 percent at its trading debut. After Bank Yudha Bhakti (BBYD) and Mitra Keluarga Karyasehat (MIKA), PP Properti (PPRO) is the third Indonesian company to have conducted an initial public offering (IPO) in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (Mitra Energi Persada had relisted earlier in May 2015).

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Indonesian stocks and the rupiah improved on the last trading day of the week supported by moderately rising indices on Wall Street on Thursday (07/05), which was in stark contrast to heavy selling that occurred one day earlier after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s statement that US stock prices may be overvalued. Meanwhile, weak trade data from China could a reason for policymakers to provide more stimulus. Indonesia’s benchmark stock index climbed 0.62 percent to 5,182.21 points on Friday (08/05).

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The Indonesian rupiah depreciated sharply, while the country’s stocks fell. According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, Indonesia’s currency depreciated 0.86 percent to IDR 13,148 per US dollar on Thursday (07/05). This performance was in line with the performance of other Asian currencies. Of the 11 Asian currencies that are followed by Bloomberg, only Japan’s yen appreciated against the US dollar. The Indian rupee was the worst performer today, weakening 1.06 percent against the greenback.

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After having delisted its shares from the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2007, Mitra Energi Persada relisted 212 billion shares (approximately 11.6 percent of the company’s equity) on the IDX on Monday (04/05). The relisting was a success. Shares of the company, traded under the ticker KOPI, rose almost 50 percent to IDR 590. Mitra Energi Persada was originally established as an e-commerce company but later shifted its business to the energy sector. The company is a trader of natural gas, coal and oil.

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Despite mixed European and American markets on Wednesday (23/01) and declining Asian markets on Thursday (23/01) as these responded to weak Chinese manufacturing data and South Korea's Q4-2013 GDP outcome, it was unable to block Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) from extending its upward movement. The IHSG was supported by various positive company releases, including financial results of 2013, capital expenditure announcements, and new products or services releases.

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The upward revision of the IMF's outlook for global economic growth (raised to 3.7 percent) was able to boost several commodity prices. This then was a reason for investors to purchase mining stocks, which made a positive impact on the performance of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) on Wednesday (22/01). Stocks in the consumer and trade sectors were also popular as speculation emerged that demand for consumer goods will rise due to the severe floods in several cities in Indonesia.

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The forming of a morning doji star indeed indicated that there was potential for continued upward movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) despite the profit taking actions that emerged and limited the gain of the index (particularly those stocks that went into the overbought area). Factors that contributed positively to today's (21/01) performance of the Jakarta Composite Index were rising Asian stock markets and a rebound in commodity stocks as a number of commodities recorded slightly higher prices.

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The movement of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (known as IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) on today's trading day (20/01) was rather volatile. Investors returned to the market after the fall of the index was limited at the end of last week. However, China's slowing economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 (7.7 percent) brought negative market sentiments. Still, foreign investors were net buyers of Indonesian stocks today and in combination with an appreciating rupiah exchange rate, the index rose 0.44 percent to 4,431.57 points.

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After Bank Panin Syariah became Indonesia's first newly listed company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the year 2014, it was quickly followed by four more listings in this past week. On Thursday (16/01), three new listings were conducted - Asuransi Mitra Maparya (ASMI), Bank Ina Perdana (BINA) and Capitol Nusantara Indonesia (CANI) - as well as one relisting - Tunas Alfin (TALF). The latter had delisted from the Surabaya Stock Exchange in December 2009 after the exchanges of Jakarta and Surabaya merged into the IDX.

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On Thursday's trading day (16/01), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) fell victim to profit taking after two days of sharp gains (although the index did not came close to its gap at 4,393-4,398 points). The index was also pulled down due to the World Bank's pessimistic forecast for growth of Indonesia's economy as well as today's mixed Asian stock indices. Lastly, the continued Indonesia rupiah exchange rate depreciation contributed to negative market sentiments.

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Despite our concern that Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) would be susceptible to profit taking after the national holiday on Tuesday (14/01) as the IHSG rose signficantly on Monday (13/01), it continued its rise on Wednesday (15/01). The IHSG was supported by positive Asian indices that were influenced by strong US and European stock markets after the release of positive economic data in the USA and Europe. The depreciating rupiah exchange rate, however, limited the IHSG's gain.

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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 December 2013 edition, a number of important topics that are monitored include Indonesia's inflation rate, the trade balance, the current account deficit, the IDR rupiah exchange rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Below is an excerpt of the newsletter:

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Although Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) ended the first trading session down, it recovered in the second half of Wednesday's trading day (08/01). Investors were eager to buy stocks that have experienced a significant correction since May 2013. Moreover, as the Indonesia Stock Exchange reduced trading sizes to 100 shares per lot from 500 shares (to increase market liquidity and attract more retail investors), investors were able to benefit from these premium prices.

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As expected, the Jakarta Composite Index (abbreviated IHSG) continued its downward trend amid falling global indices. From the start of Tuesday's trading day (07/01), the IHSG had to face pressures resulting in foreign net selling. Apart from the weakening rupiah exchange rate, negative market sentiments were caused by the Goldman Sachs Group and JP Morgan Chase & Co that both downgraded emerging market economies. This led to a correction on Asian stock markets.

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