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The Golden Year for Emerging Markets: Others Celebrate, While Foreign Investors Leave Indonesia Behind
By Gelson Kurniawan
03 November 2025 07:45
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Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The year 2025 has turned into a golden period for investors in emerging markets. The global benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, recorded a historic rally — posting gains every month throughout the year.
This rare phenomenon, last seen over three decades ago in 1993, signals a massive return of global investor confidence toward developing economies.
However, amid the global celebration in emerging market assets, Indonesia faces a puzzling paradox: foreign investors are exiting the domestic stock market even as the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) hits record highs.
As of October 31, 2025, foreign investors booked a net sell of Rp 43.19 trillion (~USD 2.7 billion). For comparison, by October 24, 2024, they had logged a net buy of Rp 44.48 trillion.
Perfect Macro Conditions Fuel MSCI EM’s Historic Rally
The rally in the MSCI EM Index this year was driven by a near-perfect alignment of macroeconomic factors, led by a policy shift from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
After a long period of monetary tightening, the Fed finally pivoted, cutting its benchmark interest rate at the end of October to the 3.75%–4.00% range. The move immediately weakened the U.S. dollar, a classic catalyst that prompts investors to move funds from safe-haven U.S. assets to higher-yielding emerging markets.
This created a “Goldilocks scenario,” where the U.S. economy cools without falling into recession — offering stability for risk assets worldwide.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs noted that emerging market equities had strengthened for nine consecutive months through October, supported by robust corporate earnings prospects and attractive valuations.
Combined with easing trade tensions and optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), risk appetite surged — turning emerging market stocks into the new favorite among global investors.
The Indonesian Paradox: IHSG Rises Amid Massive Foreign Sell-Off
While the MSCI EM Index enjoyed its global rally, Indonesia’s capital market experienced an anomaly.
Strangely, the foreign exodus did not drag the market down. On the contrary, the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) remained resilient. Although the IHSG slipped 0.25% or 20.19 points to 8,163.88 on Friday (Oct 31, 2025), it had still broken multiple records throughout the year — even surpassing the 8,200 level.
Market capitalization also stayed huge, reaching Rp 14,857 trillion (USD 930 billion) by the end of October.
So why are foreigners selling while the IHSG stays strong?
The answer lies not in Indonesia’s economic fundamentals but in technical factors — specifically MSCI’s plan to revise its methodology for calculating free-float shares for Indonesian stocks.
The uncertainty surrounding this change sparked concerns that the weight of major Indonesian stocks in global indices could decline, prompting passive foreign funds to sell preemptively ahead of portfolio rebalancing.
Meanwhile, the IHSG’s strength came from domestic investors. The massive rise in local participation — now exceeding 19 million investors — has created a formidable defense wall. Strong buying power from local retail and institutional investors has absorbed foreign sell-offs, making them the new driving force behind the market’s resilience.
Implications: Indonesia’s Capital Market Comes of Age
This phenomenon demonstrates that Indonesia’s capital market has matured. Dependence on volatile foreign “hot money” has decreased significantly.
Domestic investors now dominate share ownership in the country. After years of financial education programs led by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), young Indonesians have embraced investing, transforming the investor landscape.
Ultimately, 2025 marks a coming-of-age moment for Indonesia’s capital market. Amid the strongest emerging-market rally in three decades, Indonesia has proven its resilience and newfound independence, powered by the strength of its own investors — now the true kings in their home market.
Tahun Emas Emerging Markets: yang Lain Pesta, RI Ditinggal Malah Asing
Tahun ini menjadi masa emas di emerging market. MSCI EM Index mengalami kenaikan dalam 10 bulan berturut-turut.

