RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) opened stronger on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026, even as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of key interest rate decisions both at home and abroad. The benchmark index rose 52.32 points, or 0.75 percent, to 7,074.61, while the LQ45 index of blue-chip stocks gained 6.99 points, or 0.98 percent, to 720.72.

“Heading into the long holiday, investors are expected to hold back amid lingering uncertainty. The IHSG is likely to move within the range of 6,900–7,150,” Phintraco Sekuritas Head of Research, Ratna Lim, said in Jakarta, Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

Globally, markets are awaiting central bank announcements this week, including the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision scheduled for Wednesday, March 18. This marks the first opportunity for central banks to respond to the escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, now entering its third week.

Oil prices remain a focal point, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting energy flows and threatening global growth. Despite U.S. efforts to ease supply concerns -- such as relaxing some sanctions on Russian oil -- crude prices continue to climb.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged several countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though many have been reluctant. He also signaled that his planned trip to China later this month may be postponed, as Washington presses Beijing to play a role in resolving the crisis.

Domestically, concerns over rising oil prices are feeding worries about inflation, a widening fiscal deficit, rupiah depreciation, and slower economic growth. President Prabowo reiterated his commitment to fiscal discipline, stressing that Indonesia must live within its means. He emphasized that loosening the budget deficit cap would only be considered in extraordinary emergencies, with a maximum threshold of 3 percent of GDP.

Markets are also awaiting the outcome of Bank Indonesia’s Board of Governors meeting later today, where the BI Rate is expected to be held steady at 4.75 percent. Meanwhile, banking credit growth accelerated to 10.1 percent year-on-year in February, up from 9.96 percent in January.

Overseas, European stocks closed higher on Monday, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.44 percent, the UK’s FTSE 100 rising 0.55 percent, Germany’s DAX gaining 0.50 percent, and France’s CAC advancing 0.31 percent. Wall Street also rallied, with the Nasdaq Composite climbing 1.13 percent to 24,655.34, the S&P 500 up 1.01 percent to 6,699.38, and the Dow Jones rising 0.83 percent to 46,946.41.

Asian markets followed suit on Tuesday morning. Japan’s Nikkei gained 285.50 points, or 0.53 percent, to 54,036.60; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 336.26 points, or 1.30 percent, to 26,170.29; Shanghai’s Composite added 11.93 points, or 0.29 percent, to 4,096.72; and Singapore’s Strait Times advanced 56.37 points, or 1.16 percent, to 4,925.06. ***