Most Asian stock markets were stronger on Wednesday, led by Japan's Nikkei 225 Index which rose 2.70 percent on expectation of further government stimulus measures. Meanwhile, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index rose 1.09 percent to 4,223.91 points supported by the region's rising stock indices as well as on the back of the second installment of Indonesia's economic policy package. Meanwhile, the rupiah appreciated 0.26 percent to IDR 14,653 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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Indonesian stocks experienced a remarkable roller coaster ride on Tuesday (29/09). After opening the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell more than two percent to a near three-year low. However, the index managed to finish the trading day at 4,178.41 points, a 1.41 percent rise. Meanwhile, Indonesia's rupiah managed to curb losses. Based on the Bloomberg Dollar Index, the rupiah passed beyond the IDR 14,800 per US dollar level several times but at the end of the day it had only weakened 0.11 percent to IDR 14,691 per US dollar.

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In an effort to support the ailing Indonesian rupiah, state-owned energy company Pertamina will cut its foreign exchange purchases on the spot market by around 50 percent. Pertamina together with state utility firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) account for about half of Indonesia's daily foreign exchange (forex) transactions as these companies require US dollars for fuel purchases and overseas debt settlements.

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Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index) was down over 2 percent, touching a three-year low, while the rupiah weakened beyond the IDR 14,800 per US dollar level (Bloomberg Dollar Index) around 09:00 am local Jakarta time on Tuesday (29/09) as the global selloff persists. Investors are concerned about the economic conditions of China and the world, low commodity prices, while anticipating a Fed Fund Rate hike.

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Stock indices in Asia were mixed on the first trading day of the week. Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index plunged 2.11 percent to 4,120.50 points (a two-year low), while the rupiah (remarkably) appreciated 0.13 percent to IDR 14,674 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Meanwhile, European markets were down after opening on Monday (28/09). What influenced these markets today?

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Indonesia plans to cut taxes for local exporters in a bid to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves, while supporting the rupiah, as part of its second policy package. Indonesia’s rupiah has depreciated 18.1 percent since the start of 2015 due to looming higher US interest rates, low commodity prices, and China’s yuan devaluation. The government now plans to cut income tax on interest that exporters earn when depositing their export proceeds in local banks. Currently, income tax on bank interest (from deposit accounts) stands at 20 percent.

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After opening on Monday (28/09) Indonesian stocks rapidly fell amid mixed Asian markets. The main factor that causes several Asian markets to fall is declining Chinese industrial profits (triggering concern about a deepening slowdown of the world’s second-largest economy). China’s industrial profits fell 8.8 percent in August, down from July’s 2.9 percent drop. By 09:50 am local Jakarta time, the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index was down 1.41 percent to 4,150.27 points.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) is set to announce the second installment of a policy package that aims at raising onshore US dollar supplies (and liquidity). As the rupiah has been the second worst-performing Asian emerging market currency (after Malaysia’s ringgit), having depreciated 18.1 percent against the US dollar so far in 2015, Indonesian policymakers are anxious to prop up the ailing currency in order to safeguard the country’s financial stability. Bank Indonesia's benchmark rupiah rate (Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate, abbreviated JISDOR) stood at IDR 14,690 per US dollar on Friday (25/09), a 17-year low.

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Stock markets in Asia were mixed on Friday (25/09) after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in a speech at the University of Massachusetts that the US central bank is still on track to raise interest rates before the year-end (provided no economic shocks take place as the move is data-dependent). After this looming hike, Yellen suggests to gradually tighten US monetary policy thereafter.

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In line with other Asian emerging markets and currencies, Indonesian stocks and the rupiah are weakening on Friday (25/09) after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said during her speech at the University of Massachusetts that US interest rates are likely to be raised before the year-end, provided no economic shocks occur. Yellen stated that most FOMC participants agree on a Fed Fund Rate hike later this year, followed by gradual further monetary tightening thereafter.

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After the one-day holiday due to the Islamic new year, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) started in the red on Wednesday (06/11) amid the continued depreciation of the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar and the mixed performance of Asian stock indices (influenced by weakening global indices on the previous day). However, during the day a number of stocks, which had fallen previously, became popular investment targets, which supported the index.

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On Monday (04/11), Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) fell 0.21 percent to 4,423.29 points. Besides the negative influence of falling indices across Asia and foreign net selling of Indonesian stocks, the IHSG was also dragged down by the continued depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate (against the US dollar). When US manufacturing data showed that manufacturing activity grew faster than expected in October, the US dollar gained and thus the rupiah became pressured.

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Indonesia's October inflation rate was well-received by investors. On Friday (01/11), Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that the country's inflation in October 2013 grew 0.09 percent. Easing inflation was mainly due to falling prices of raw foods and clothes. Year-on-year (yoy), however, Indonesia's inflation is still high at 8.32 percent, although showing a moderating trend from 8.40 percent (yoy) in September 2013 and 8.79 percent (yoy) in August 2013. Inflation had skyrocketed after subsidized fuel prices were raised by an average 33 percent in June.

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The Jakarta Composite Index (Indonesia's benchmark stock index) fell 1.73 percent on Friday (01/11) to 4,432.58 points. A persistent concern for investors is the tapering issue of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program. Analysts expect the program to continue at a pace of USD $85 billion per month until at least March 2014, but investors remain concerned. Another issue that brought negative market sentiments was September's trade figure, which was released today. In September, Indonesia recorded a trade deficit of USD $657.2 million.

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Despite foreign investors recording a net buy on the Jakarta Composite Index on Thursday (31/10), a depreciating rupiah as well as falling stock indices across Asia made investors concerned. Thus, the benchmark index of Indonesia followed the pace of other Asian indices and ended on 4,510.63 points (a 1.40 percent fall). The outcome of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting did not support the rupiah. On the contrary, the rupiah fell after the Fed stated to continue quantitative easing but that the tapering may start sooner than expected.

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In line with falling Asian indices, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) was down on Tuesday (29/10). Investors are cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting and thus used today to engage in profit taking. The IHSG fell 0.60 percent to 4,562.77 points. Moreover, the appreciating trend of the rupiah exchange rate was disturbed ahead of the Fed meeting and which also formed a contributing factor for the fall of the IHSG today. Foreign investors recorded a net sell, while domestic investors recorded a net buy.

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Wall Street and European indices being up at the end of last week had a positive impact on Asian stock indices on Monday (28/10), despite experiencing a correction during today's trading day. The Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG), Indonesia's benchmark stock index, joined this trend. After making a strong start, it became susceptible to profit taking and thus had a mixed performance although it ended at 4,590.54 points, a 0.21 percent increase. The IHSG was supported by foreign net buying and an appreciating rupiah exchange rate.

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Although at the start of the day the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) went into red territory, it rebounded and managed to gain 1.06 percent to 4,594.85 points at the end of Thursdays' trading day (24/10). Factors that positively influenced the IHSG were net foreign buying of Indonesian stocks and a number of corporate earnings reports that met investors' expectation. These included various property companies such as Sentul City and Modernland Realty as well as a number of banks. The rupiah, on the other hand, depreciated again.

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Amid falling Asian stock indices, Indonesia's benchmark stock index (the IHSG or Jakarta Composite Index) managed to gain 33.8 points to 4,546.50 (+0.75 percent) on Wednesday (23/10). The main reason for today's upward movement was large-scale stock purchases by domestic investors, who are more confident now after it has been expected that the Federal Reserve will not tone down its massive bond-buying program (quantitative easing) in the near future. A few blue chips, including Bank Mandiri and Unilever, were popular stocks today.

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Indonesia's benchmark stock index, the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG), was unable to continue its rising trend of the last week on Tuesday's trading day (22/10). Mixed indices in the United States on the previous day in combination with falling indices in Asia impacted negatively on the IHSG. Other factors that contributed to the IHSG's 1.43 percent downslide to 4,512.74 on Tuesday were weak openings of stock indices in Europe as well as continued foreign selling of Indonesian stocks.

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