CHAN:
And now a review at the Asian financial crisis. The Indonesian Stock Exchange is shut since yesterday and Taiwan's Central Bank has reduced its interest rates in a joint effort with other world banks.

STORY:
The Indonesian stock exchange remains closed for a second day today after the index fell more than 10 percent to its lowest level since 2006.

Trading was halted for the first time in its history. This came after telecoms firm Telekomunikasi Indonesia, fell over nine percent and car distributor Astra International lost a fifth of its value.

Meanwhile Taiwan's index was 0.40 per cent lower after its central bank lowered interest rates by 25 basis points.

[Liao Shueh-chuan, Central Bank Commissioner]:
"In a situation of reduced risk of inflation, lowering the interest rate will encourage domestic demand, and sustain economy growth."

Taiwan is joining forces with other world banks: the U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England and central banks of Switzerland, Canada and Sweden have all lowered official rates by a half percentage point.