Bank Indonesia cuts interest rates
I NDONESI A'S c ent r a l ba n k c ut interest rates for t he fourt h month in a row on Thursday as Southeast A si a's la rgest economy look s to counter slow ing globa l grow th.
Bank Indonesia (BI) lowered its key lending rate by 25 basis points to five per cent, prompting speculation that more cuts could be in store as central banks around the world adopt softer monetary policies.
"This policy is consistent with low inflation expectations . . . and is a preemptive measure to boost momentum at home amid a global economic slowdown," bank governor Perry Warjiyo said.
On Thursday, Indonesia's main stock index headed for a 10th straight rise in what would be the longest run of gains since 1995, according to Bloomberg, on hopes for business-friendly reforms as President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo kicked off a second term.
Jokow i t his week chose for mer World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati to ser ve another term as finance minister, with Indonesia facing weaker prices for key commodities like coal and palm oil a s t he g loba l e c onomy f a l t er s and demand dries up.
Economic growth eased to 5.05 per cent in April-June – the slowest quarterly expansion in two years – as exports and investment slipped.
That has thrown up a challenge for Jokowi, who was re-elected this year la rgely on his promise to energise t he economy wit h a roads-to-a irpor t s i n f r a st r uct u re bl it z a nd a pledge to cut red tape.
"The slowing economy and subdued inflation mean BI would certainly like to cut rates again in the coming months," research house Capital Economics said after the rate cut.
"However, the timing of further rate cuts will be determined by the performance of the rupiah."
Indonesia's currency was at risk of weakening against the US dollar as investors remain cautious because of a stumbling world economy and the Sino-US trade war, it added.