Agus Martowardojo, Governor of Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia), said on Thursday (27/08) that the nation’s economic growth pace is expected to reach 4.89 percent (y/y) in full-year 2015, down from 5.0 percent (y/y) in the preceding year and it would mark the fifth straight year of economic slowing. Earlier this week, Bank Indonesia had already revised down its economic growth forecast to the range of 4.7 - 5.1 percent (y/y) in 2015 (from 5.0 - 5.4 percent previously).

Read more ›

Last week, Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) refrained from adjusting its relatively high interest rate regime as it is committed to support the ailing rupiah and combat high inflation. Another decision that was revealed by Bank Indonesia is the soon-to-be-introduced regulation that limits total (non-collateral) monthly US dollar purchases to USD $25,000 (down from USD $100,000 previously). This regulation will be implemented in a move to thwart speculators that want to take advantage of the weak and volatile rupiah.

Read more ›

Just before the market closed on Tuesday (18/08) the Indonesian rupiah experienced a remarkable recovery, signalling that the country’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) intervened to support the ailing currency (after Malaysia’s ringgit, the rupiah is the second-worst performing emerging currency in Asia so far this year, weakening 11.2 percent against the US dollar). Today, based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the Indonesian rupiah was gradually falling toward IDR 13,860 per US dollar until it suddenly appreciated markedly.

Read more ›

For the sixth straight month, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) left its interest rate regime unchanged at Tuesday’s Board of Governor’s meeting (18/08) as it aims to guard the rupiah against severe volatility (which occurred after China’s yuan was allowed to devalue, while markets are still preparing for monetary tightening in the USA) and tries to combat inflation.

Read more ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced on Friday (14/08) that the country’s current account deficit narrowed to USD $4.48 billion, or 2.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in the second quarter of 2015. In the same quarter last year the deficit stood at USD $9.59 billion). As such, the current account deficit (CAD) has become more sustainable and this may provide some support for the rupiah which is currently facing tough times (ahead of a looming US interest rate and China’s yuan devaluation).

Read more ›

The pace of economic growth of Indonesia is expected to remain below five percent year-on-year (y/y) in the second quarter of 2015 according to Reuters poll involving 22 analysts. In fact, the poll shows that further slowing economic growth is expected. In the first quarter of 2015, Indonesia’s economic growth came at 4.71 percent (y/y), the weakest growth pace in six years. According to the poll, analysts see a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 4.61 percent (y/y) in the second quarter of 2015.

Read more ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) expects to see Indonesian inflation in July in the range of 0.46 - 0.60 percent month-on-month (m/m). Inflation in Indonesia always peaks during the months June, July and August due to increased consumer spending in the context of Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations as well as the start of the new school season. Earlier this month, Governor Agus Martowadojo said to expect annual inflation to dip below 7 percent in July, from 7.26 percent (y/y) in June.

Read more ›

According to the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the Indonesian rupiah continued to depreciate on Monday (20/07). Indonesia’s currency weakened 0.31 percent to IDR 13,395 per US dollar, its weakest level since 1998 when the country was plagued by the Asian Financial Crisis. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia’s activities are still limited until Wednesday (22/07) due to a public holiday (Idul Fitri celebrations), implying that the central bank temporarily doesn't publish its Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (abbreviated: JISDOR).

Read more ›

Indonesia recorded a USD $477 million trade surplus in June 2015, the country’s seventh consecutive trade surplus. However, according to the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), released on Wednesday (14/07), Indonesia’s June exports fell 12.8 percent (y/y) to USD $13.4 billion, while imports fell 17.4 percent (y/y) to USD $12.9 billion. These figures show that Indonesia’s trade surplus is primarily caused by weak domestic demand "outperforming" weak global demand, hence raising concerns about global and domestic economic growth.

Read more ›

As expected Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) refrained from adjusting its interest rate regime at Tuesday’s Board of Governor’s meeting (14/07). The key BI rate was kept at 7.50 percent, while the overnight deposit rate (Fasbi) and lending facility rate were left at 5.50 percent and 8.00 percent, respectively. Bank Indonesia believes that the current interest rate environment is in line with its efforts to bring down inflation while supporting Indonesia’s ailing rupiah ahead of expected further monetary tightening in the USA later this year.

Read more ›

For the first time in four years Bank Indonesia opted for monetary tightening by raising the benchmark interest rate (the 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate) by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.50 percent. Also the deposit facility and lending facility rates were raised by 25 bps to 3.75 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively (effective per 18 May 2018). This latest move is part of Bank Indonesia's efforts to maintain economic stability amid the high degree of uncertainty in global financial markets.

Read more ›

In an ad hoc press conference on Thursday (26/04) Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo provided an update on the performance of the Indonesian rupiah as well as an update on the strategies that are - or can be - used by the central bank to safeguard a stable rupiah. When the ad hoc press conference was announced we initially expected to see an interest rate hike. However, based on a statement from Bank Indonesia, this seems to be the last option the central bank wants to use.

Read more ›

Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.24 percent to 6,229.63 points on Tuesday (24/04). The performance of Indonesian stocks were in line with the general trend in Southeast Asia. Due to rising US treasury yields (touching nearly 3 percent, its highest level since January 2014) investors withdraw their funds from riskier assets in emerging markets. Concerns over US inflation and the fiscal deficit are behind the rising US treasury yield.

Read more ›

Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, decided to leave interest rates unchanged at the April policy meeting (18-19 April 2018). The benchmark interest rate (the 7-day Reverse Repo Rate) was kept at 4.25 percent for the seventh straight month. Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility rates were maintained at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively. Dody Budi Waluyo, who was inaugurated as Deputy Governor on Wednesday (18/04), said an interest rate hike would be counterproductive to the nation's economic growth.

Read more ›

Chances are big that Perry Warjiyo will become the next governor of Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia). On Wednesday (28/03) Warjiyo, the sole nominee of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to replace incumbent Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo after the latter's term ends in May 2018, appeared before the House of Representatives' (DPR) financial commission for a "fit and proper" test.

Read more ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its benchmark interest rate - the BI 7-day Reverse Repo Rate - at 4.25 percent at the February Board of Governor's Meeting (14-15 February 2018). Meanwhile, it maintained the deposit facility and lending facility rates at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively (effective per 19 February 2018).

Read more ›

The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) said it needs about two years to complete a study about the possibility of issuing a digital rupiah currency (Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC). Agus Martowardoyo, Governor of Bank Indonesia, said the lender of last resort has just started to study the possibility of using a digital rupiah for domestic payments.

Read more ›

The central bank of Indonesia, Bank Indonesia, left its interest rate regime unchanged - for the fourth straight month - at the January 2018 policy meeting. The benchmark BI 7-day Reverse Repo Rate was kept at 4.25 percent, while the deposit facility and lending facility rates were held at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively (effective per 19 January 2018). These decisions were in line with analyst forecasts.

Read more ›

Although the Indonesian rupiah has been strengthening against the US dollar since mid-December 2017, the rupiah may encounter serious pressures in the year 2018 amid US tax reforms, the US Federal Reserve's further monetary tightening, and unstable geopolitics. Meanwhile, Indonesian exports are expected to grow, but only in the range of 5-6 percent year-on-year (unlike 2017 when the nation's exports rebounded 17 percent).

Read more ›

At the monthly policy meeting on 13-14 December 2017, Bank Indonesia decided to hold the benchmark BI 7-day Reverse Repo Rate at 4.25 percent, while it maintained the deposit facility and lending facility rates at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively, effective per 15 December 2017.

Read more ›