Rupiah Weakens as Oil Prices Surge

  • 18 Mei 2026 09:30 WIB
  •  Voice of Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian rupiah weakened sharply, slipping past the 17,650 level against the US dollar on Monday, 18 May 2026. At the same time, the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) slipped closer to the 6,500 psychological level as global market pressure mounted.

Global crude oil prices rose again and remained above $100 per barrel at the start of the week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was traded around $108 per barrel, while Brent crude stood near $111 per barrel.

The increase in oil prices has raised concerns about higher inflation risks. This situation has also triggered selling pressure in financial markets across the region.

Most stock markets in Asia opened lower during the morning session. The IHSG also started the day in the red at 6,628 and continued to fall toward the 6,500 range.

On the currency market, the rupiah was traded at around 17,655 per US dollar. Domestic financial markets remain under pressure from negative global sentiment.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have also escalated. The United States has recently issued new threats against Iran, while Iran remains in a strong opposing position.

Peace negotiations that were previously expected have not matched developments on the ground. Over the weekend, energy infrastructure in the Middle East was reportedly attacked.

Meanwhile, global gold prices came under pressure and were traded at around $4,536 per troy ounce, or about 2.58 million rupiah per gram. Market focus is now shifting more toward geopolitical conflict rather than economic data releases.

Writer: Gunawan Benjamin (Economist, Islamic University of North Sumatra)

Kata Kunci / Tags
rupiah weakens Oil Prices IHSG Update WTI Crude Middle East Geopolitics Indonesia stock market Brent Crude Global Oil Market Gold Prices IHSG Declines Iran US Conflict

News Recomendation

Latest News

Loading latest news.....