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Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, again emphasized that it will sanction those payment system operators and financial technology operators in Indonesia (both bank and non-bank institutions) that facilitate transactions using virtual currency, such as the Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin and Ripple (also known as cryptocurrencies).
Indonesia's current account balance is expected to show a deficit for the next five years. The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) does not rule out a surplus within that period but it would require some serious work in terms of structural reform-making. Indonesia started to record current account deficits in late-2011 due to the ballooning oil import bill (before the government slashed energy subsidies) and weak commodity prices after 2011.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) stated on Thursday (28/12) that it expects to see Indonesia's economic growth at 5.05 percent year-on-year (y/y) in full-year 2017, up modestly from 5.02 percent (y/y) in the preceding year. Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo said the Indonesian economy is recovering unevenly yet gradually.
Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, left its benchmark interest unchanged at the final (regular) policy meeting of 2017. The BI 7-day Reverse Repo Rate was kept at 4.25 percent on Thursday (14/12). Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility were kept at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively (effective per 15 December 2017).
Approaching the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting - scheduled for 12-13 December 2017 - the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate remained stable on Monday (11/12). By 15:00 pm local Jakarta time, the rupiah had strengthened 0.01 percent to IDR 13,548 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). However, several analysts warn that the rupiah is likely to depreciate if the US Federal Reserve will indeed raise its benchmark interest rate.
Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves fell in November 2017. At the end of November the nation's foreign exchange reserves stood at USD $125.97 billion, down from USD $126.55 billion at the end of the preceding month. Despite the decline, the exchange assets can still adequately cover 8.4 months of imports or 8.1 months of imports and servicing of government external debt repayments, well above international standards at 3 months of imports.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) will conduct its final monthly policy meeting for 2017 on 13-14 December. Based on statements made by Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Dody Budi Waluyo on Wednesday (06/12) at Bloomberg's Year Ahead Asia Conference, the benchmark interest rate of Indonesia will likely remain unchanged at 4.25 percent at this year's final policy meeting.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) will soon issue a new regulation in which it bans the use of bitcoin for domestic payments starting from 2018. Bitcoin is a (virtual) digital currency that is traded at cryptocurrency exchanges for fiat currencies. According to Bank Indonesia, however, the use of bitcoin undermines the sovereignty of the Indonesian rupiah.
Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, said the country's official foreign exchange reserves fell to USD $126.5 billion at the end of October 2017 (from the all-time record high level of USD $129.4 billion at the end of the preceding month).
Today, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to keep its key interest rate - the seven day reverse repo rate - at 4.25 percent, a decision that had been expected by most - if not all - analysts as there have been rising pressures on the rupiah exchange rate after two surprise rate cuts in August and September, while there remain plenty of external matters that make investors careful about investing in emerging market assets.
Latest Columns Bank Indonesia
The decision of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) to raise its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 7.00 percent and its deposit facility (Fasbi) by 0.50 percent to 5.25 percent seem to have had a good impact on the value of Indonesia's stocks and the rupiah. Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) rose 2.23 percent to 4,195.09 points on Friday (30/08), implying a three-day winning streak. Since the first trading day of this year, the IHSG is down 3.47 percent.
For the second day in a row Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) was able to post a gain. Today, it rose 1.92 percent to 4,103.59 points. This rebound is possibly the result of the higher key interest rate. Yesterday, it was announced that the central bank (Bank Indonesia) scheduled an extra meeting to discuss monetary policy. Immediately speculation emerged that the BI rate might be raised by 50 basis points. And indeed it was raised, much to the liking of many investors and analysts.
Indonesia's current account deficit, which caused much alarm among the investor community, is expected to ease to about 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the second half of 2013. This assumption is supported by Indonesia's central bank and various analysts. The country's current account deficit reached USD $9.8 billion or 4.4 percent of GDP in Q2-2013. In combination with the weakening rupiah, higher inflation and the possible end to the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program, investors have been pulling money out of Indonesia.
After market participants had time in the weekend to think over the 'rescue packages' of the Indonesian government and central bank (Bank Indonesia) that were released on Friday (23/08), they seemed unconvinced about the short-term impact of the packages. As a result, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) fell 1.18 percent to 4,120.67 points on Monday (26/08), which is the IHSG's lowest level since 7 September 2012. The Indonesian rupiah gained 0.06 percent to IDR 10,841 (Bank Indonesia's mid rate).
Despite the announcement of an economic policy package aimed at overcoming the impact of global financial turmoil, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) was not able to end the week on a positive note, while the value of the rupiah on the spot market depreciated 1.68 percent to IDR 11,058 per US dollar on Friday (23/08) amid a majority of strengthening Asian currencies, including the Indian rupee (0.67 percent) and the Thai baht (0.28 percent). Based on Bank Indonesia's mid rate, the rupiah fell 4.4 percent against the US dollar to IDR 10,848 last week.
Similar to the Indonesian government, Indonesia's central bank also announced a fiscal policy package to support sustainable nationwide economic growth by curbing inflation, maintaining a more sustainable balance of payments as well as strengthening financial system stability. These additional policies are expected to synergise with the policy package unveiled by the government on Friday (23/08). These measures were taken as both the rupiah and Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) are in a downward spiral.
The rebound that happened in the first session of Friday's trading day (23/08) gave hope that Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) would end the disastrous week on a positive note. However, in the second session of the day market participants began selling Indonesian assets causing the index to fall again, although the fall was limited. In line with the Asian region, the index lost 0.04 percent to end at 4,169.83 points. Even the highly anticipated 'rescue package' of the Indonesian government was not able to support the index.
Concerns about Indonesia's weakening rupiah intensified on Wednesday (21/08) as the currency is now balancing on the psychological boundary of IDR 11,000 per US dollar. The rupiah continued its downward spiral today although its decline was limited due to the intervention of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) that started selling US dollars again in an effort to support the rupiah. According to data compiled by Reuters, the rupiah has now fallen 10.7 percent this year.
On Tuesday (20/08), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) continued its decline with its fourth consecutive day of losses. Amid major concerns about Indonesia's economic growth, high inflation, tighter monetary policy and current account deficit, the IHSG fell 3.21 percent to 4,174.98 points. It means that the index now stands about 21 percent lower than its record peak in May 2013. Foreign investors have been pulling money out of the Indonesian market. According to Bloomberg, about USD $255 million has been retracted in the last two days.
After two days of growth, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) became victim of profit taking on Thursday (15/08). Particularly domestic investors were eager to sell their Indonesian assets. Falling indices on Wall Street on Wednesday (14/08) in combination with global uncertainty about the end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program made a negative impact on Asian stock indices, including the IHSG. Indonesia's central bank's decision to keep its benchmark interest rate at 6.50% was well-received by most investors.
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