Both the rupiah exchange rate and the Jakarta Composite Index strengthened significantly on Monday's trading day (13/01) after the government introduced a milder version of its mineral ore export ban on Sunday (12/01). Full implementation of the ban would have burdened the country's already wide current account deficit. The ban immediately pushed up the nickel and copper prices today. The central bank's Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) rose 1.75 percent to IDR 12,047 per US dollar on Monday (13/01).

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The central bank of the United States, the Federal Reserve (FED), announced that it will start winding down its quantitative easing program in January 2014. Currently, the Fed purchases USD $85 billion worth of bonds per month but this amount will be reduced to USD $75 billion next month. The Fed came to this decision as prospects of the US labor market have shown a marked improvement, while economic growth is expected to accelerate to between 2.8 and 3.2 percent in 2014 and between 3.0 to 3.4 percent in 2015.

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Various analysts believe that the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) can make a good jump in 2014 to the level of between 5,000 to 5,300 points (from 4,182 currently) despite the looming end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program (QE3) which may result in temporary capital outflow from Indonesia's capital markets. The analysts believe that positive internal developments will provide solid support for the IHSG. These developments include the trade balance, rupiah exchange rate and general elections.

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In Bank Indonesia's Board of Governors' meeting - held on Thursday (12/12) - it was decided to keep the country's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent. Executive Director of Bank Indonesia's Communication Department Difi A. Johansyah said that the current rate of 7.50 percent is in line with the institution's inflation target of 4.5 percent (plus or minus one percent). The lending facility and deposite facility (Fasbi) rates are also maintained at 7.5 percent and 5.75 percent respectively.

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The Indonesia rupiah exchange rate continued its depreciation on Wednesday (04/12). The central bank's Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate fell 1.09 percent to IDR 11,960 per US dollar after absorbing the impact of the currency's weak performance on yesterday's spot market. On Tuesday (03/12), local Indonesian companies were buying US dollars at a more attractive exchange rate after the currency had appreciated previously, thus placing serious downward pressure on the currency of Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate maintained its downward trend on Wednesday (27/11). Bank Indonesia's mid rate depreciated 0.41 percent to IDR 11,813 per US dollar. Investors remain concerned about Indonesia's wide current account deficit. Today, Finance Minister Chatib Basri said that the current account deficit will be around USD $30 billion by the end of 2013, significantly up from USD $24 billion at the end of 2012. In the third quarter of 2013, the current account deficit was USD $8.4 billion (3.8 percent of Indonesia's GDP).

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Concerns about the looming end of the Federal Reserve's monthly USD $85 billion stimulus program (known as quantitative easing or QE3) in combination with the deteriorating domestic economy of Indonesia has caused Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) to plunge 1.95 percent in the first trading session of 13 November 2013. The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.28 percent to IDR 11,600 according to Bloomberg. These developments happen one day after the decision of Indonesia's central bank to raise the BI rate to 7.50 percent.

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Sawit Sumbermas Sarana, a subsidiary of palm oil plantation company Citra Borneo Indah, plans to release 15.7 percent of its shares (1.5 billion shares) to the public through an initial public offering (IPO). The IPO will be conducted in November 2013. The book building takes place between 7 and 20 November and the official listing on the Indonesia Stock Exchange is scheduled for 12 December 2013. The underwriters of the IPO are BNP Paribas Securities, Mandiri Sekuritas and RHB OSK Securities.

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The Federal Reserve's decision not to change its quantitative easing program seems to have led to a bullish market in Asia. Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) rose 4.37 percent to 4,658.2 points after the first session on Thursday's trading day (19/09). All sectoral indices were up, with the property sector in leading position. Big cap stocks, in particular, performed well. Investors are relieved that the Fed did not alter its stimulus program. Thus, funds are expected to continue flowing to emerging markets, including Indonesia.

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The Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK or Otoritas Jasa Keuangan) announced that six more Indonesian companies are planning to conduct their initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2013. The OJK is currently processing the applications, which should see the listings materialize in Q4-2013. One company that was expected to conduct its IPO, but postponed, was Puradelta Lestari. The company was not willing to conduct the IPO in the midst of current bearish market conditions in Indonesia.

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Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) took another large blow on Wednesday (03/07). The index fell 3.20 percent to 4,577.15 points as investors were worried after reading the revised outlook of the World Bank. The institution downgraded its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia in 2013 from 6.2 percent to 5.9 percent. Higher inflation, because of the recent subsidized fuel price hike, is expected to result in lower domestic consumption. The IDR rupiah posted a slight weakening to IDR 9,941.

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Weakening American and European stock indices on Tuesday (02/07), as investors mostly refrained from trading ahead of Wednesday when a number of important US economic data are released, caused negative market sentiments in Asia today (03/07). Moreover, the market responded negative towards the World Bank's July report in which the outlook for economic growth of Indonesia in 2013 was cut to 5.9 percent (from 6.2 percent). Lastly, a gap at 4,620 - 4,644 still needed to be closed.

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The World Bank has revised down its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia in 2013 to 5.9 percent from its original estimate of 6.2 percent. Similarly, the institution has altered its forecast for economic growth in 2014 from 6.5 percent to 6.2 percent. The revised figures were published in July's edition of the Indonesia Economic Quarterly (IEQ), titled 'Adjusting to Pressures'. The World Bank's forecast is also in sharp contrast with the GDP assumption of the Indonesian government, which puts economic growth in 2013 at 6.3 percent.

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Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) fell 0.86 percent to 4,777.45 on Monday (01/07) as eight of the nine sectoral indices weakened. Only Indonesia's finance index managed to post an upward movement. Several big cap stocks ended the trading day with large losses, such as Unilever Indonesia (-3.90%) or Telekomunikasi Indonesia (-3.11%). The consumption sector was one of the worst performing sectors in Indonesia yesterday as can be seen in Indofood Sukses Makmur's shares, which fell 6.80 percent.

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Last week, Indonesia's main index (IHSG) rebounded 303 points to 4,818.90. After weeks of foreign outflows, Indonesia finally experienced capital inflows again during the last two days of the week. For example, on Friday (28/06) foreigners bought IDR 960 billion (USD $97.0 million) more Indonesian shares than they sold. However, considering the full week, foreigners still recorded net selling amounting to IDR 1.02 trillion (USD $103 million). Do these last couple of days tell us that the bearish market is over? Lets take a closer look.

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For the third day in a row, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) made a strong upward jump on Friday (28/06). Supported by strong American and European stock indices on the previous trading day, the IHSG rose 3.06 percent to 4,818.90 points. American and European indices mostly rose on Thursday (27/06) due to various positive macroeconomic data from the USA. These economic data translated into the good performance of the IHSG and other Asian stock indices on Friday. All sectoral indices of the IHSG were reported to have grown.

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Stock indices in the United States were up for the third day in a row on Thursday (27/06). Main reason for this upward trend are various positive macroeconomic figures from the USA. The number of homes under contract to be sold (excluding new construction) grew 6.7 percent in May, while analysts had forecast growth of about 1 percent from the previous month. Personal spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the domestic economy, grew 0.3 percent in May, while personal income rose 0.5 percent.

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Asian stock indices were up on Thursday (27/06) after economic growth of the United States in Q1-2013 was lower than expected. Paradoxically, this had a positive effect on global stock indices as speculation arose that the disappointing growth rate would convince the Federal Reserve to continue its quantitative easing program. It also had a good affect on Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG), which gained 1.92 percent and ended at 4,675.75. The index was well on its way to close a gap (at 4,743-4,801) but was blocked by mixed European openings.

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It has been a long time since we have reported a good day at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). But finally on Wednesday (26/06) Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) made a great jump upwards, supported by American and European stock indices that were up on Tuesday (25/06) due to positive economic data from the United States. Investors used this positive context to engage in stock trading. Moreover, Indonesia's stocks are currently - technically speaking - cheap and thus attractive.

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The main stock index of Indonesia (IHSG) fell 0.24 percent to 4,418.87 on Tuesday (25/06) as foreign investors continued to sell parts of their Indonesian stock portfolios. In fact, after selling USD $68 million worth of stocks on Tuesday, foreign investors have now sold more stocks than they bought in 2013. From its record high of 5,214 on 20 May 2013, the IHSG has now fallen 15 percent. After the speech of Ben Bernanke one week ago (19/06), investors have been pulling out money from emerging markets, including Indonesia.

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