Rupiah Weak Investor advantage

The rupiah interbank trade rate in Jakarta at Friday’s closing session appreciated by 46 basis points to Rp 12,755 per US dollar, up from the previous Rp 12,801 per US dollar.

“The profit-taking action of the market players toward the US dollar helped strengthen the rupiah in the final trading session,” PT Platon Niaga Berjangka analyst Lukman Leong said on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Lukman said the appreciation of the rupiah was supported by sentiments surrounding the domestic financial market, which expected Bank Indonesia to reduce its interest rate.

“Bank Indonesia gubernatorial board is going to conduct a meeting next week regarding its future monetary policy. There is a good chance that they will cut the rate as a result of the low inflation rate projection,” he explained.

From external factors, he said that investors’ prediction on the rise of unemployment insurance claims in the US and the decline of its retail market have weakened the trading of the US dollar in the market, hence, putting pressure on the domestic currency.

“In the long run, the rupiah is predicted to strengthen because investors are optimistic that the domestic economy will grow higher than 5.02 percent recorded in 2014,” he continued.

Separately, Bank Himpunan Saudara analyst Rully Nova said the economic fundamentals in Indonesia remain healthy, airing optimism among investors and market players that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 5.3 percent to 5.5 percent over the course of 2015.

Meanwhile, the central bank data revealed that the rupiah was traded at Rp 12,769 per dollar by 4 p.m. on Friday from Rp 12,794 per dollar in the earlier trade. (nfo)(+++)

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