Rupiah Touches Rp18,000 Again, Purbaya: Ask the Central Bank

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has responded to the rupiah exchange rate touching Rp18,000 against the US dollar once again. Purbaya stressed that exchange rate movements are the domain of Bank Indonesia and expressed confidence that the central bank understands the conditions and the steps needed to stabilise the rupiah. “Ask our central bank. I think the central bank understands,” he said when met by reporters in the Senayan sports complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/7/2026). Pressure on the rupiah returned during Wednesday morning trade. The US dollar briefly breached the psychological level of Rp18,000. According to Refinitiv data, at 10:11 WIB, the rupiah had weakened 0.17% to Rp18,000 per US dollar before the exchange rate ended in the red, down 0.11% at Rp17,990 per US$. The rupiah’s movement throughout the day was influenced by the dynamics of the US dollar in global markets. Although the DXY was observed weakening in the afternoon, the US dollar index had remained in a strengthening position from yesterday’s close until this morning’s opening. This dynamic was triggered by rising tensions in the Middle East. The escalation occurred after the United States launched retaliatory strikes against Iran in the early hours of Wednesday local time, following reports of attacks on several tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.