General Review ProdukHukum BankIndonesia
Monetary Policy Report - Quarter I-2010
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robust external side performance, more vigorous growth is forecasted for some sectors, most importantly manufacturing and trade. Manufacturing growth has picked up in response to
stronger performance in export-oriented manufacturing and the automotive industry. At the same time, more vigorous trade sector growth is consistent with mounting activity in
exports and imports and stronger manufacturing performance. Nevertheless, various issues remain that pose challenges to higher growth, particularly in regard to measures to accelerate
infrastructure programmes and make optimum use of opportunities from the launching of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement AC-FTA.
The strengthening of the economy is also visible in the steady improvement in economic performance at the regional level. Economic performance in the regions was
led by Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua Kali-Sulampua and Jakarta. Other regions Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara or Jabalnustra, however, reported slowing economic
activity. Buoyant economic performance in the regions is driven by higher exports, investments and consumption. Export performance in individual regions has risen on higher exports of
mainstay commodities, such as mining products and CPI in Sumatra and Kali-Sulampua and chemicals in the Jabalnustra region. In analysis by major export destinations, exports from
individual regions have shifted from Japan, America and Europe as in the past to ASEAN and China, due to the more advanced recovery in these economies. Sumatra and Kali-Sulampua
have even increased their share of exports to India, particularly for CPO and coal. Indications point to strengthening investment in line with the mounting pace of economic activity.
Reflecting this is the positive growth in the indicators for cement consumption growth and capital goods imports. In the area of Regional Government investment, increases have
been made in capital expenditures. The higher investment has been channelled mainly into infrastructure projects, such as construction of roads, dams, bridges and airports. In analysis
by business category, the industry sector has picked up in response to improving domestic and external demand. More robust industry performance is reflected in production capacity
expansion and higher raw materials imports in all regions. In the mining sector, performance has climbed largely from increased production of non-oil and gas mining products led by coal
and copper. In contrast, oil and natural gas production continues on a slowing trend.
Concerning prices, inflation remained at modest levels in Q12010. Low inflationary
pressure in Q12010 was indicated by March 2010 deflation at 0.14 mtm, bringing annual CPI inflation to 3.43 yoy. The success in curbing inflation at this low level is partly
attributable to the appreciation in the rupiah and adequate levels of supply in responding to increased demand. Besides this, the low inflation in March 2010 also resulted from a
moderation of inflationary pressures from volatile foods mainly rice, due to the onset of the harvest season in some regions, and minimum inflationary pressure from administered
prices.
The balance of payments maintained an estimated solid position in Q12010, supported by recovery in the world economy. Projections point to a current account
surplus, consistent with the steady improvement in exports, particularly of resource-based commodities including coal and copper. Conversely, imports have also climbed in response to
more robust domestic and export demand. The capital and financial account similarly recorded
General Review
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an estimated Q12010 surplus on the strength of capital inflows and issuance of government foreign currency bonds. Risk indicators for Indonesia have improved, as reflected in the all-
time low in the credit default swap CDS indicator for Indonesia, narrowing yield spread for Indonesia Government Bonds over US Treasury Notes and the upgrading of Indonesia’s
rating. Taken together, international reserves at end-March 2010 stood at 71.8 billion US dollars, equivalent to 5.8 months of imports and servicing of official external debt.
The solid performance in the balance of payments underpinned an appreciating trend in the rupiah. Measured as an average for Q12010, the rupiah appreciated by an
overall 2.2 to Rp 9,254USD. At end Q12010, the rupiah stood at Rp 9,090USD, having gained 3.7 point to point. The strengthening of the rupiah was supported by conducive
conditions in macroeconomic fundamentals, reflected in healthy performance in the balance of payments and improving risk perceptions. Other support for rupiah appreciation came
from the continued attractiveness of returns on rupiah placements, reflected in uncovered parity UIP, covered interest parity CIP and the relatively high yield spread on Indonesia
Government Bonds surpassing yields in other countries in the region. The appreciation in the rupiah was also accompanied by stable level of exchange rate volatility at 0.57 compared
to the Q42009 level of 0.56.
Financial sector performance has picked up in line with the recovery in the global and domestic economy. The JSX Composite Index mounted significantly in Q12010 with
gains at 10.2. This index performance was the highest for any country in the region. Factors driving the JSX Composite gains include the brightening outlook for the Indonesian
economy, and with it, reduced perceptions of risk, improvement in the credit rating and high returns on rupiah placements. Also reflecting this was movement in other financial indicators,
such as declining yield on government securities. Considerable excess liquidity remains on the interbank money market, which has pushed the overnight interbank rate closer to the
lower BI Rate corridor. The Bank Indonesia decision to lengthen the maturities of SBIs for reasons including financial deepening proved successful, as indicated by the narrowing of
the high-low interest rate spread on the overnight interbank market. Added to this, the proportion of SBIs in the 3-month tenor soared to 67.0 from 24.64 at the end of the
preceding quarter. Consistent with the diminishing perceptions of bank risks, deposit and lending rates saw further decline although less than expected. Looking forward, monetary
policy transmission is predicted to improve in line with strengthening optimism of the banking system in the condition of the economy.
At the micro level, conditions in the national banking system remain stable. Reflecting
this is the still comfortable level of the capital adequacy ratio CAR at 19.3 in February. Similarly, the gross non-performing loans NPLs ratio remains below 4 with the net ratio
at 1. Besides this, banking liquidity improved further, including liquidity on the interbank money market. Bank depositor funds similarly recorded growth.
The improvements in the global and domestic economy during Q12010 are forecasted to carry forward into the future. This reinforces the confidence of Bank
Indonesia in a more robust outlook for the Indonesian economy compared to earlier
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forecasts. Economic growth in 2010 is predicted in the 5.0-6.0 range, up from the originally projected 5.0-5.5. The economy improved not only from the continued
strength of consumption, but also higher exports in line with the global economic recovery. Rising demand accompanied by improvement in the investment climate is expected to drive
significant growth in investment. The improvement in the economy is forecasted to carry forward into 2011 with growth possibly reaching 6.0-6.5. Rising demand matched by
capacity for supply-side response is expected to keep future inflationary pressures at a modest level. A complete elaboration of the medium-term outlook for the economy is presented the
Indonesian Economic Review 2009, accessible on the Bank Indonesia website.
On 6 April 2010, the Bank Indonesia Board of Governors decided to maintain the BI Rate at 6.5 with an interest rate corridor at +- 50 bps around the BI Rate.
Key to this decision was the assessment that the 6.5 level in the BI Rate remains consistent with achievement of the 5+1 inflation target for 2010. The present
monetary policy stance is also regarded conducive to the economic recovery process and operation of the bank intermediation function.
Latest Macroe conomic Indicators
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