Indonesian equities plunge after MSCI flags ownership, free float concerns

[JAKARTA] Jakarta stocks tumbled on Wednesday (Jan 28) after global index provider MSCI said it would pause certain index adjustments for Indonesian companies, citing unresolved concerns over tightly held ownership structures.

The market opened in jitters with the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index plunging nearly 7 per cent, with heavyweight stocks from state-owned banks and companies linked to major conglomerates, under significant selling pressure.

The sell-off followed a pointed warning from the global index provider, which raised fresh doubts about the investability of Indonesian equities. In its latest announcement, MSCI said it would temporarily freeze index treatment for Indonesian stocks amid persistent concerns over free float levels and overall market accessibility.

The decision added to mounting pressure on South-east Asia’s largest economy, where investor sentiment has already been strained by concerns over the government’s fiscal trajectory and increased currency volatility.

In a statement released on Tuesday, MSCI said it had concluded its consultation on the assessment of free float for Indonesian shares.

While acknowledging some incremental improvements introduced by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), MSCI said the measures fell short of addressing the core concerns of global investors.

MSCI cautioned that inadequate progress on transparency by May could prompt a review of Indonesia’s market accessibility, potentially slashing its weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and paving the way for a downgrade to frontier-market status.

The decision follows MSCI’s proposal to tighten its definition of free float for Indonesian stocks, a key factor in benchmark weightings.

MSCI said it may use alternative data to assess true free float, warning that lower-than-reported levels could force passive funds to cut holdings.

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Free float has become a flashpoint in Indonesia, where investors say many large companies are thinly traded and tightly controlled by a small group of wealthy shareholders, exacerbating volatility and increasing manipulation risks.

An IDX spokesperson said that, following MSCI’s announcement, regulators and market institutions would continue to engage with the index provider.

“Previously, we enhanced disclosure by publishing free float data on the IDX website,” the spokesperson said. “However, if MSCI considers this insufficient, we will continue discussions on data transparency in line with MSCI’s proposals, with the aim of reaching a mutual understanding.”