FX.co ★ Indonesian Shares Fall in Afternoon Trade

On Thursday afternoon, Indonesia's IDX Composite Index declined by 23 points or 0.3%, settling at 8,368. This drop erased modest gains achieved in the prior session, largely due to weaknesses observed in the producer manufacturing, utilities, and retail trade sectors. Investors adopted a cautious stance in anticipation of significant economic data releases from China, Indonesia's major trading partner, expected on Friday. These include critical insights into home prices, retail sales, and industrial output. Adding to the cautious sentiment were concerns about the upcoming Bank Indonesia policy meeting and the release of Q3 current account figures next week. However, the decline was partly checked by positive signals from U.S. futures, suggesting a stronger opening on Wall Street after President Trump signed a short-term funding bill to end the record-long government shutdown. Locally, Jakarta is advancing with its plan to implement mandatory ethanol fuel blending by 2028, aiming to reduce dependency on imported oil. Additionally, the sovereign wealth fund Danantara is actively expanding across key strategic sectors. Notable underperformers included Triputra Agro Persada, which fell by 5.8%, Japfa Comfeed by 3.2%, Indo Tambangraya by 2.1%, and Saratoga Investama by 1.8%.