Indonesia looks to protect its economy from the adverse effects of a strong U.S. dollar.
The rupiah faces severe depreciation. Already, it’s at a four-year low after dropping more than 2.5% against the dollar in April.
Officials are using fiscal policy as a shock absorber and stepping up foreign exchange interventions to stabilize the currency.
The central bank is limiting the amount state-owned companies can buy in dollars. Additionally, it has required companies that export natural resources to bring their earnings in dollars back to Indonesia.
Looking ahead, there is a possibility of a significant interest rate hike. While the central bank maintains a key rate of 6%, it signals openness to future increases to manage inflation and support the rupiah.
For more information, read the full article on Bloomberg.
James Miller is a Senior Content Writer at McGruff.com. He has a background in investing and has spent most of his career in the financial industry. He can trace his family tree back to the California Gold Rush when his ancestors risked it all to make it big in the west. He feels like he's following in their footsteps as he strives to make sense of today's gold market.