Wednesday, 3 July 2013

RUPIAH STILL UNDER PRESSURE, IHSG STAND A CHANGE TO STRENGTHEN








The Moneymarket

Lately analysts, economists and market play­ers were constantly monitoring the course of Rupiah value movement which tend to constantly weaken against USD and feared to break through Rp 10,000 per USD. Understandable because during transaction last Thursday (10/1), although Rupiah value against USD was closed to strengthen by 25 points (0.25%) to the position of Rp 9,715 per USD against the previ­ous position of Rp 9,740/Rp 9,745 – Rupiah’s posi­tion was still vulnerable.

Strengthening of Rupiah at that time was among others due to market's response to outcome of Bank Indonesia's Board of Governor's Meeting (RDG) although not resulting in too much shock on the market. BI was still maintaining benchmark rate at 5.75% and Bank Indonesia Deposit Facility Interest Rate (Fasbi) at 4%.

Somehow BI was still optimistic about the outlook of Indonesia's economy although they were still keeping watch on Indonesia’s deficit in Trade Balance. Therefore Rupiah’s inter-bank rate was strengthening. Over the sessions, Rupiah reached its strongest level of Rp 9,700 with lowest level of Rp 9,740 against the position at opening session of Rp 9,700 per USD.

The only thing was that Rupiah’s position at the one-month futures market in Singapore dropped significantly to Rp 9,930 per USD. The condition generated steep downturn of Rupiah value in some money changers. The significant difference between Rupiah’s inter-bank rate and the futures market rate indicated there was still fear of Rupiah’s continued slump. Apparently Rupiah’s downturn at the futures market was loose and beynd control.

The uncontrolled Rupiah’s freefall was also on account of global investors who seem to fear continued Rupiah's weakening. The market seemed also worried of capital outflow. Meanwhile Rupiah strengthening at inter-bank transaction was thanks to external positive sentiment. Release of China's trade balance report also breezed out hope of improved economy in this world’s second largest economy.

The same was with production data of France which showed increase of 0.5% against the previous -0.6%. However, investors were still waiting for the meeting outcome of the Europe Central Bank (ECB). The market wished to see whether ECB would run monetary policy by maintaining interest rate at the level of 0.75% or not. All in all, the USD weakened against most of foreign currencies including Euro. In­dex of USD weakened to 80,390 against the previ­ous 80.530. Against Euro, USD weakened to USD 1.3100 USD against the previous 1.3063 dollar per Euro.

This week Rupiah's position was predicted to be still volatile with tendency to weaken. In some money changers and banks, the range of buying price and selling price of USD was in the range of Rp 9,770 – Rp 9,990. Hence weakening of Rupiah had been happening over the past week. Weakening of Rupiah would continue to happen in the short run because investor’s sentiment in Indonesia was bearish.

Rupiah exchange rate value against USD post­ed steep downturn up to 7.6% in the past year, the second worst in Asia next to Japan which weakened by 12.12% . Analysts of the moneymarket rated that Rupiah depreciation was triggered by high demand for USD for import, deficit of the trade balance and global economic slowdown. The local stockmarket which was closed at the positive zone was not strong enough to shield off pressures on Rupiah.

Fortunately the market saw that BI was actively making intervention to ease pressures on Rupiah. The global negative sentiment from the unemployment data in Euro zone, which was higher than before, was reckoned to contribute to escalation of the USD this week. It was expected that BI continued to interfere the moneymarket to protect Rupiah value.

Economists circles predicted Rupiah exchange rate value against USD in this year 2013 would weaken at Rp 9,720 from the position of Rp 9,380 in 2012 last year. This was due to trade balance which was still in deficit. However weakening of the USD was rated as positive because it would boost export and put brakes on import.

They were of opinion that global economy in 2014 would still be marked by slowdown in some countries like Europe, China and India. However with the projection of Indonesia’s economic growth in 2013 which could reach 6.5% Indonesia’s economy would still be in good shape thanks to support of local consumption.

It was noteworthy that the Government was not too much disturbed by Rupiah weakening. The brighter side of it was that weakening of Rupiah had the potential of jacking up export. The Government rated that weakening of Rupiah in the range of Rp 9,500 to Rp 9,700 per USD had positive impact on import and export performance on month-to-month basis. On the other hand, export performance would be uplifted because exporters were in more competi­tive position.

The Central Board of Statistics (BPS) posted export of November 2012 at USD 16.44 billion, an increase of 7.3% against export in October 2012 amounting to USD 15.32 billion. Meanwhile import in November 2012 was 16.92 billion USD or down by 1.67% compared to October 2012 amounting to USD 17.21 billion.

As footnote Rupiah value through transac­tions over 2012 was Rp 9,384 per dollar. Meaning, through 2012 Rupiah value was depreciated by 6.9% against average value in 2011 at Rp 6,799 per USD. As per January 2013 last, Rupiah exchange rate val­ue was Rp 9,788 per USD and yet the Government had made assumption for Rupiah exchange rate value in 2013 at Rp 9,300 per USD.

BI and the Government must strive to sta­bilize Rupiah exchange rate value at ideal level in accordance with the fundamental economic condition. Moreover, in time when current transaction was posting deficit it would be safer if Rupiah value were maintained at not too strong level.

Indonesia's forex reserves in December 2012 was USD 112.78, an increase of USD 1,49 billion compared to November 2012 at USD 111.29 billion USD. The calculation of forex reserves was based on the concept of International Reserve and Foreign Cur­rency Liquidity (IRFLC) based on price formatted ac­cording to Official Reserve Asset (ORA).

Forex reserves had the potential to expand if deposit proceed of export-based forex (DHE) in na­tional banks were running well, For that matter it was right for BI to improve regulations on DHE income and Drawing of Overseas Debt Forex (DULN). In Bank Indonesia Regulation (PBI) no. 14/25/PBI/2012 on DHE income and DULN withdrawal effective as per January 1, 2013 BI made obligations for exporters to receive DHE through Forex Banks.

There were some revised points in PBI regula­tions, among them was bank as paymaster of export transactions. In this case export transactions needed not be made through overseas banks. The obligation to receive DHE through forex banks was not appli­cable on Government owned DHE received through Bl. DHE which was received in cash at home must be proven by written explanation with enclosed sup­porting documents.

DHE attainment through overseas forex banks contracted each year since 2010. In 2010, DHE re­ceived through overseas banks was 22.9%, in 2011 dropped to 19.6% and in 2012 reduced again to 15%. This figure was rated as not reduced notably because there were DHE which up to 2012 was still payable to overseas banks.

In 2013, BI was excepting that the figure would drop below 15%. In 2012 Export-based Forex (DHE) which entered through local Forex Bank came to USD 107.07 billion. Furthermore those which entered through overseas bank amounted to USD 22.23 billion. By the above picture it might be concluded that Rupiah value would be in the range of Rp 9,700 -  Rp 9,775 per USD this week.

The Capital Market

            Index of IHSG was opened to strengthen by 0.36% to the level of 4,333.25 in opening session on Friday (11/11). Around 77 shares moved up, 68 re­mained stationary, and 21 shares weakened. Index of LQ45 strengthened by 0.47% to the level of 737.42. Index of JII shares inched up by 0.39% to the level of 594.41 while index of ISSI strengthened by 0.29% to the level of 144.91.

The sectors of business which strengthened were consumers 0.45% to the level of 1,548.94; property which inched up by 0.01% to the level of 336.49 and the sector of finance which inched up by 0.36%. Total transition of shares at the regular market reached Rp 237,10 billion with trade volume amounting to 132.23 million shares. Foreign inves­tors were making clean buying worth Rp 26.57 billion.

Previously IHSG once fell by 45 points due to mounting act of profit-taking (10/11) and IHSG index almost stumbled to below the psychological level of 4,300. Notabkly IHSG was closed to slump by 45.563 points 11.04%1 to the level of 4,317.365. Meanwhile index of LQ45 was closed to sink by 10.702 points (1.44%) to the level of 733.906.

Meanwhile shares price at the Wall Street stockmarket USA rose significantly, driven by optimism about economic growth in China. Index of S&P 500 touched the highest level in the past five years. During closing session on Thursday (10/1), index of Dow Jonas inched up by 80.71 points (0.60%) to the level of 13,471.22 Index of Standard & Poor's 500 rose to the level of 11.10 points (0.76%) to the level of 1,472.12 Index of Composite Nasdaq rose by 15.95 points (0.51%) to the level of 3,121.76.

Historically, January was a positive month for shares market. Shares of the financial sector and en­ergy took the lead in market strengthening. Index of the financial sector rose by 1.4% and the energy sec­tor 1%. Anysts rated that data of China's economy posed as catalyst of index movement. Export data of China rose high in December after three consecutive months of slowdown. The energized WII Street index was triggered by hope of improvement of existent’s performance through financial report season which was to arrive soon.

Wall street fear index which swept over US stockmarkets fell to the lowest level in the past 5.5 years. This downturn indicated more positive outlook of the global stockmarket which was more positive. Vix index which recorded optimism or pessimism over market volatility was disclosed in the stipulation of protective optional price over movement of S&P 500 Index. Normally some investment managers sought for hedging to anticipate steep downfall of price shares. Vix referred to the hedging price as bench­mark for market optimism.

Investment Managers believed that low Vix index was an indication that the Fed had succeeded as supporter of the rnoneymarket and had succeeded in reducing demand for hedging assets. Signals of opti­mism was also supported by shifts of investors from bond market to shares market. This was a reflection of global market recovery and economic recovery in the USA which was stabilizing.

It was not worthy that Vix was not the only standard of market optimism and only represented views of the Pacific only. In Europe there was simi­lar indicator called Vostoxx. In case the to of them came at the same time, it was not impossible that the world's economy was recovering in facing crisis.

Meanwhile stockmarket movement in Asia tend to be positive. Index of Nikkei 225 soared up by 132.92 points (1.25%) to the level of 10,785,56. Index of KOSPI rose by 2.12 points (0.11%) to the level of 2,008. 92 Regional stockmarket on the aver­age succeeded to move in the Green zone, except China's stockmaket which was still corrected amides bettered export performance,

Back to the local stockmarket foreign inves­tors were seen to to accumulate shares buying which were recorded since early year. According analysts accumulated buyings by foreign investors were response to the agreement over fiscal cliff in the USA which was understood as positive signal stockmarket performance in 2013.

Based on data of Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) investor's clean buying of 2 to 8 January 2013 (five business days) posted at Rp2.4 trillion. Notably almost everyday foreign investors posted net buyings of shares listed at the local stockmarket. It was not an exaggeration that IHSG projection this week would be in the range of 4,330 - 4,375 supported by shares of the financial sector, also telecommunication, con­struction and retail business.


Business News - January 16,2013

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