Agus Martowardojo, the governor of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia), provided some new forecasts with regard to Indonesia's economic growth and rupiah. On Tuesday (06/06) Martowardojo told at a parliamentary hearing that he expects the rupiah to depreciate modestly in 2018, while economic growth should accelerate. Meanwhile, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia's state budget deficit is estimated to widen slightly more-than-expected in 2017.

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On early Monday morning we detect light trading in Asian stock markets. This is mainly because markets in the USA, United Kingdom and China are closed for a public holiday today (29/05), while investors are also awaiting speeches from Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) officials as well as the US jobs report (due on 2 June). Meanwhile, North Korea again caused rising tensions as it launched another ballistic missile in its latest test.

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Most Asian stocks are in the green zone on Monday morning (22/05), tracking Wall Street's performance on Friday where investors' attention shifted from recent political drama - related to US President Donald Trump - to good corporate earnings of Deere and Caterpillar. Meanwhile, rising crude oil ahead of the OPEC meeting on Friday (May 25, 2017) added positive sentiments to markets. Indonesia is again on track to finish at a new all-time record high.

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It is not a good day for stocks across the Asia-Pacific today. After US stocks on Wall Street tumbled overnight on persistent concerns about political stability in the USA - as President Donald Trump allegedly tried to interfere in a federal investigation by urging former FBI chief James Comey to end a probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties with Russia - Asian stocks are following suit on Thursday (18/05).

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Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.56 percent to 5,615.49 points on Wednesday (17/05), in line with the performance of stocks across the Asia-Pacific region. The weak performance is caused by increasing concern about the controversial actions and policies of US President Donald Trump. After the emergence of several new scandals over the past couple of days more and more people assume Trump will not be able to finish his presidential term as calls for impeachment are heard.

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Starting from March 5, 2018, Indonesian citizens as well as foreigners need to be a bit more careful when bringing foreign-denominated cash money into Indonesia. A new Bank Indonesia regulation sets a IDR 1 billion (approx. USD $75,000) ceiling on the total amount of foreign cash money an individual can bring into Indonesia.

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Sugeng, Deputy Governor of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia),  confirmed on Monday morning (08/05) that his institution has recently been intervening in the foreign exchange market in an effort to limit sharp rupiah appreciation. So far in 2017 the Indonesian rupiah has appreciated 1.11 percent against the US dollar with most of the rupiah's advance stemming from the first month of the year.

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As widely expected, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged after May's two-day policy meeting that was concluded on Wednesday (03/05). The US central bank also delivered a rather hawkish policy statement, downplaying weak Q1-2017 economic growth and emphasizing the strength of the US labor market. This implies the Fed is still on track for two more rate hikes in the remainder of 2017.

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Yesterday's Jakarta gubernatorial election seems to have little impact on the performance of Indonesian stocks and the rupiah today (20/04). While Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index is cautiously higher (in line with the general trend of Asian stocks this morning), the Indonesian rupiah had depreciated 0.10 percent to IDR 13,332 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index) by 10:00 am local Jakarta time on Thursday (20/04). The rupiah performance is slightly out of tune with most other Asian currencies but its weakening is still rather insignificant.

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It was a good day for Indonesian stocks on Wednesday (29/03) as the nation's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) hit a new record high at 5.592.51 points, one day after Indonesian markets had been closed for a public holiday. Not only Indonesia but most Asian stocks rose on Wednesday - in line with expectations - following Wall Street higher overnight where the Trump stock rally seems back on track, especially after positive new economic data.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) estimates that Indonesia's current account deficit will ease to 3.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2013. Indonesia's wide current account deficit has been one of the major financial troubles this year and managed to weaken investors' confidence in Southeast Asia's largest economy. Thus, Indonesia became one of the hardest hit emerging countries after the Federal Reserve started to speculate about an ending to its quantitative easing program.

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In Bank Indonesia's board of governors' meeting, which was held on Thursday (12/12), it was decided to maintain the country's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent. This decision was in line with market expectation but was unable to support the Jakarta Composite Index and rupiah exchange rate. The lending facility and deposit facility interest rates were also maintained at 7.50 percent and 5.75 percent respectively. Bank Indonesia decided not to change the rate as Indonesia's inflation outlook for 2014 is still within target.

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Both the Jakarta Composite Index (Indonesia's benchmark stock index) and the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate are under pressure this morning as market participants are waiting for results of the central bank's Board of Governor's meeting that is held today (12/12) in Jakarta. Speculation has emerged that Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) will raise its benchmark interest rate (BI rate) one more time in 2013 in order to combat the country's current account deficit as well as mitigate the impact of a possible winding down of QE3.

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Although Indonesia's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) was kept at the level of 7.5 percent (in line with market expectation) today (12/12), it was not able to support the country's stock index. Indonesia's IHSG index fell 1.39 percent to 4,212.22 points. The index was negatively impacted by Asian stock indices that were down due to concerns about the looming end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program. This made investors' positive reaction to the BI rate of temporary nature. Weak openings in Europe increased downward pressure.

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One of the main problems of Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) is the profit taking that immediately happens after a day of strong growth. On Wednesday (11/12), the IHSG index was plagued by profit taking since the start of the first trading session. Moreover, the index was impacted by mostly falling Asian stock indices as well as the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate which went above the IDR 12,000 per US dollar level again. The only support the IHSG received was just before its closing when European indices opened up.

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Throughout the morning, the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate showed volatile movement on Tuesday (10/12). In the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the currency was up 0.45 percent to IDR 11,920 per US dollar at 16:20:51 local Jakarta time. The rupiah's performance is volatile because negative sentiments are brought on by improving economic data from the USA, causing a strengthening US dollar, while positive market sentiments are brought on by the new fiscal policies that were announced by the Indonesian government.

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Indonesia's benchmark stock index (the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) continued yesterday's rise on today's trading day (10/12), supported by indices on Wall Street that climbed due to the lower VIX index (Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index) although Asia's stock indices were mixed, while the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate continued its decline. Indonesia's manufacturing stocks were up along with consumer, automotive and processed foods stocks.

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After appreciating on Monday morning (09/12), the Indonesia rupiah exchange rate started to weaken against the US dollar in the afternoon. At 15:10:29 local Jakarta time, the rupiah stood at IDR 11,970 per US dollar in the Bloomberg Dollar Index, a 0.05 percent depreciation from the start of the day. The rupiah exchange rate is fluctuating due to positive sentiments caused by Indonesia's October trade surplus as well as China's low inflation and negative sentiments brought on by the looming end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program.

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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 November 2013 edition, a number of important issues 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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Indonesia's Finance Minister Chatib Basri stated that the government of Indonesia is busy preparing three new policies that aim to restore financial stability as well as attract foreign direct investments. These three new policies involve the higher sales tax on imported luxury cars, a revision of Indonesia's negative investment list, and the higher income tax on imported consumption goods. These three new policies are in addition to the policy package that was introduced by the Indonesian government in August 2013.

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