Rupiah Opens Stronger by 0.21%, US Dollar Exchange Rate Falls to Rp16,870
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The rupiah exchange rate began Thursday morning’s trading with a strengthening against the United States (US) dollar.
Based on Refinitiv data, in Thursday’s trading (26/3/2026), the rupiah opened at the level of Rp16,870/US, orstrengtheningby0.21.
Meanwhile, the US dollar index (DXY) at 09:00 WIB was observed to strengthen slightly by 0.03% to the level of 99.628. This increase continues the strengthening in the previous trading, when the DXY rose 0.17% to the position of 99.599.
The rupiah’s movement in today’s trading is estimated to still be heavily influenced by external factors, particularly the dynamics of the US dollar in the global market.
The US dollar is still holding strong in early Asian trading, as market participants await clarity on whether the tensions in the US-Israel conflict with Iran are truly beginning to ease or still have the potential to heat up. This uncertainty is causing investors to once again tend towards safe-haven assets, including the US dollar.
Iran’s Foreign Minister on Wednesday stated that his country is still reviewing a proposal from the US to end the war in the Gulf region. However, Iran emphasised that it has no intention of holding negotiations to stop the conflict that continues to widen in the Middle East. This statement has kept market participants cautious.
Westpac analysts assess that the market is currently still very sensitive to every news development. Investors are still trying to assess whether the latest various signals truly point towards de-escalation of the conflict, or are just a temporary phase before tensions rise again.
On the other hand, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which once triggered a surge in energy prices, has also prompted the market to re-examine inflation expectations and the direction of US monetary policy. Market participants now increasingly believe that the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, will maintain high interest rates for longer.
The strengthening of the US dollar index ultimately narrows the room for strengthening of other countries’ currencies, including the rupiah.