Bank Indonesia (BI) decided to lower its key lending rate by 25 basis points to5 percent, prompting speculation that more cuts could be in store as centralbanks around the world adopt softer monetary policies.
IB Governor Perry Warjiyo said the policy is consistent with low inflationexpectations and is a measure to boost domestic economic development amid aglobal economic slowdown.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo chose former World Bank managing director SriMulyani Indrawati to serve another term as Finance Minister in the context thatthe country is facing weaker prices for key commodities like coal and palm oilas the global economy falters and demand dries up.
Economic growth eased to 5.05 percent in the second quarter of 2019 – theslowest quarterly expansion in two years, as both exports and investmentslipped.
Research house Capital Economics said the slowing economy and subdued inflationmean BI would certainly like to cut interest rates again in the coming months.
Indonesia's currency was at risk of weakening against the USD as investorsremain cautious because of a stumbling world economy and the US-China tradewar, it added./.