NEVER-ENDING is the perhaps best way to describe the tests the rupiah is currently having to go through. Last week, the local unit was trading close to the critical 10,000 level, closing eventually on Friday at 9,875 against the US dollar. This is its worst exchange rate for 28 months and is a threat to Indonesia's economy, which was just beginning to look more interesting, especially with improved export performance.

Last year, the government wa