Rupiah Weakens Ahead of BI Rate Decision, Prabowo’s Fiscal Policy Speech
Jakarta. Indonesia’s rupiah weakened further against the US dollar on Wednesday as investors awaited Bank Indonesia’s interest rate decision and closely watched President Prabowo Subianto’s speech on the country’s economic and fiscal direction amid rising global uncertainty.
The rupiah fell 37 points, or 0.21%, to Rp 17,743 per US dollar in spot trading by 9:05 a.m. Jakarta time, according to Bloomberg data. The currency had already weakened 35 points in Tuesday's trading after briefly touching Rp 17,703 per dollar. Meanwhile, the US dollar index edged up 0.05% to 99.378.
Market sentiment remained fragile ahead of Bank Indonesia’s two-day Board of Governors Meeting, where policymakers are widely expected to decide whether to raise the benchmark interest rate to support the rupiah.
At the same time, investors were monitoring Prabowo’s appearance before parliament on Wednesday, where he personally presented the government’s macroeconomic framework and fiscal policy priorities for the 2027 state budget.
Prabowo said he deliberately chose to deliver the address himself because escalating geopolitical and geo-economic tensions have created a highly uncertain global environment that could directly affect Indonesia’s economy.
“We as a nation are facing geopolitical and geo-economic challenges full of conflict, tension, and uncertainty,” Prabowo told lawmakers during a plenary session at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta.
“Wars are happening in many places, including in Europe and the Middle East,” he said, adding that even conflicts far from Indonesia could still have significant impacts on the country’s economy and state finances.
The president said the current global situation required Indonesia’s head of state to directly communicate the government’s economic and fiscal strategy to parliament and the public.
The rupiah’s decline also came as investors assessed concerns over Indonesia’s fiscal outlook and new policy uncertainty surrounding plans to establish a state-supervised agency to manage exports of strategic commodities such as crude palm oil and coal.
Analysts at Mirae Asset Sekuritas said markets remain in “wait-and-see mode” ahead of the central bank decision, although improving fiscal deficit data has provided some relief. Indonesia’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 0.6% of GDP in the first four months of 2026 from 0.9% previously.
Still, Mirae Asset expects Bank Indonesia to hold its benchmark rate at 4.75%, contrary to market consensus forecasting a 25 basis-point hike to 5%..
The brokerage argued that raising rates may have limited effectiveness in stabilizing the rupiah because the pressure stems largely from structural capital outflows and global geopolitical risks rather than interest-rate differentials alone.
Instead, the firm expects Bank Indonesia to adopt a “hawkish hold” by maintaining rates while intensifying foreign exchange intervention, increasing issuance of Bank Indonesia Rupiah Securities (SRBI), and selectively purchasing government bonds to stabilize market yields and support confidence.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Prabowo Orders Up to 50 Ethanol Plants to Support E20 Fuel Program
Indonesia plans E20 gasoline within years, backed by up to 50 new ethanol plants and a nationwide sugarcane replanting drive.Rupiah Defies Global Tensions, Closes at Rp 17,921 per Dollar
Rupiah gained 0.36% to Rp 17,921 per US dollar on Friday as stronger BI survey data outweighed Middle East tensions.Prabowo Rejects 'Lazy' Stereotype, Prioritizes Local Jobs at $21b Masela Project
Prabowo urged local hiring at the $21 billion Masela LNG project, saying Indonesia should no longer be underestimated.Rupiah Exits Rp 18,000 Zone on Thursday
Rupiah strengthened 0.45% to Rp 17,986 per US dollar on Thursday, buoyed by BI's independence and softer-than-expected US inflation.Rupiah Climbs to Rp 18,068 as Softer US Inflation Weighs on Dollar
Rupiah strengthened to Rp 18,068 per US dollar on Wednesday as softer US inflation weakened the greenback despite Middle East tensions.Rupiah Strengthens to Rp 18,091 as S&P Outlook Lifts Sentiment
Rupiah strengthened to Rp 18,091 per US dollar as optimism over S&P's growth outlook outweighed Middle East tensions.Rupiah Slides Further as Middle East Escalation, Domestic Legal Turmoil Weigh on Sentiment
Rupiah fell to Rp 18,109 per US dollar as escalating US-Iran tensions and domestic legal uncertainty dampened investor sentiment.IDX Says Prabowo Speeches No Longer Drive Indonesia's Stock Market
DX says global uncertainty, not President Prabowo's speeches, is the main driver of JCI volatility.Prabowo Inaugurates Five Dams to Boost Indonesia's Food and Water Security
President Prabowo inaugurated five dams worth Rp9.79 trillion to strengthen Indonesia's food, water and energy security.IMF, ADB Optimism Lifts Rupiah Despite Global Geopolitical Risks
Rupiah gained 0.35% as IMF and ADB reaffirmed Indonesia's growth outlook, boosting investor confidence despite geopolitical risks.The Latest
Prabowo Orders Up to 50 Ethanol Plants to Support E20 Fuel Program
Indonesia plans E20 gasoline within years, backed by up to 50 new ethanol plants and a nationwide sugarcane replanting drive.US, Canada, Mexico Claim Success as World Cup Co-Hosts
US, Canada, Mexico have claimed success as host countries for the World Cup as enthusiasm soars for the final match.China’s WAICO or US-Led Pax Silica? Indonesia Stays Neutral
Indonesia says that it is taking part in the two AI-related initiatives proposed by the rivalring major powers China and the US.JCI Posts Strongest Weekly Gain in Months on Debt Confidence
Indonesia's benchmark index climbed 4.24% this week as healthy external debt data lifted sentiment despite global uncertainties.Febrie Adriansyah Denies All Allegations After 11-Hour AGO Questioning
Former prosecutor Febrie Adriansyah denied all allegations, including claims he received Rp 50 billion, after an 11-hour AGO questioning.Most Popular
