Bank Indonesia intervenes in FX markets after rupiah slump

Bank Indonesia is intervening in the spot, domestic non-deliverable forwards and bond markets to maintain the balance of currency supply and demand

Indonesia’s central bank is stepping into the market to support the rupiah, that’s in its longest losing streak since 2023.

Bank Indonesia is intervening in the spot, domestic non-deliverable forwards and bond markets to maintain the balance of currency supply and demand, said Edi Susianto, executive director for monetary management.

“Market confidence needs to be maintained,” Susianto said, adding that the weakness is largely driven by external sentiments.

Susianto’s comments come with the currency set to decline for a sixth straight day. The rupiah along with other emerging market currencies are coming under depreciation pressure as signs of resilience in the US economy bolster the dollar.

“Global market developments have been rather unfavourable for EM currencies, including the rupiah, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and recent better-than-expected US jobs data,” Susianto said.

The rupiah weakened as much as 1.3% to 15,693 per dollar on Monday. The currency had rallied more than 8% in the quarter ended September on expectations that the Federal Reserve will persist with heavy rate cuts after its recent half percentage point reduction.

BI was seen supporting the currency in early trading, according to traders who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they aren’t authorised to speak publicly. That was the first time in months that the central bank had intervened in the market.

The Indonesian central bank has ample resources to support the rupiah, with its foreign-exchange reserves remaining near a record. The stockpile stood at US$149.9 billion in September, covering 6.4 months of imports and external debt servicing requirements.

The weakness in the rupiah has lifted expectations BI may keep its policy rate on hold at its meeting on Oct 16 after a surprise rate cut in September. BLOOMBERG