Jakarta \u2014 Indonesia\u2019s Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) opened down\n0.3% or -21.76 points to 7,115.45 in the first trading session on Monday\n16 March 2026. A total of 154 shares rose, 177 fell, and 316 remained\nunchanged. Trading in the first session was thin, with a transaction\nvalue of Rp 220.08 billion involving 449.49 million shares across 36,592\ntransactions. Market capitalisation declined to Rp 12.614 trillion.<\/p>\n
Within minutes of market opening, the IHSG fell sharply and corrected\nmore than 2% to 6,967. Since the morning, the IHSG has consistently\nremained in negative territory, experiencing considerable\nvolatility.<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s trading market will be exceptionally brief, operating\nonly two days on Monday and Tuesday, before the extended Lebaran Idul\nFitri holiday begins Wednesday 18 March through the following\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Before the extended break, investors face numerous concerns regarding\nboth domestic and global economic conditions. Global financial markets\nwill encounter significant sentiment shifts and important economic data\nreleases this week. The conflict in the Middle East and its impact on\nenergy supplies will remain a principal driver of global markets, and\nthis issue will prove critical in a series of interest rate decisions\nfrom major central banks worldwide.<\/p>\n
The primary focus this week is on central bank decisions. At least\neleven central banks will hold rate-setting meetings this week,\nincluding the US Federal Reserve and Indonesia\u2019s Bank Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Since the Indonesian market will be closed during significant global\ndata releases, investors must carefully assess what steps to take during\nthese two trading days.<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia will hold a Board of Governors Meeting on Monday and\nTuesday this week (16-17 March 2026) and will hold a press conference on\nTuesday. Bank Indonesia is expected to hold its benchmark rate at 4.75%\nthis month to protect the rupiah\u2019s exchange rate amid escalating Middle\nEast tensions and surging oil prices. Bank Indonesia has maintained its\nbenchmark rate since September 2025.<\/p>\n
From the United States, investors await the release of February\nProducer Price Index data on Wednesday this week (19 March 2026).\nPreviously in January 2026, US producer prices rose 0.5% month-on-month,\nexceeding market expectations of 0.3%. The increase was primarily driven\nby the services sector, whilst goods prices actually fell due to\ndeclining petrol prices.<\/p>\n
The primary focus this week centres on the Federal Reserve\u2019s interest\nrate decision, scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday US time and to be\nannounced early Thursday morning Indonesian time (19 March 2026). The\nFed\u2019s current rate stands at 3.5%-3.75% following three cuts last year.\nMarkets now await signals regarding the next policy direction,\nparticularly amidst inflation uncertainty and global economic\nconditions.<\/p>\n
Most analysts expect the Federal Reserve to maintain its rate at\n3.50%-3.75% at the March FOMC meeting. Projections on FedWatch even show\n99.2% probability of a rate hold.<\/p>\n
Investors must also monitor Middle East conflict developments.\nIsraeli military spokesman Effie Defrin stated that Israeli forces still\nhave \u201cthousands\u201d of targets to strike in Iran, hours after attacks\nexpanded to include western and central regions of Iran.<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran has not\nasked the United States for a ceasefire. In an interview with CBS News,\nthe BBC\u2019s US media partner, Araghchi also said Iran sees no reason to\nspeak with the United States.<\/p>\n
During the weekend, US President Donald Trump threatened additional\nstrikes against Kharg Island, Iran\u2019s principal oil export hub. He also\nstated he is not yet ready to reach a deal ending the conflict that has\nclosed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy trade route, and\nroiled global energy markets.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration plans to announce as early as this week that\nseveral countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships\nthrough the Strait of Hormuz. However, they are still discussing whether\nthe operation will commence before or after the conflict ends, according\nto a Wall Street Journal report citing unnamed US officials. The White\nHouse has not provided official comment.<\/p>\n
Trump, who stated on Friday that the US Navy would soon begin\nescorting oil tankers, claimed that Iran wanted to negotiate. However,\nthis claim was disputed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on\nSunday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ihsg-opens-down-2-at-6-900-level-1773629699", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }