Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) experienced a turbulent trading session on Wednesday (18/1/2026), with the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) closing down sharply by 659.67 points (7.35%) at 8,320.55. 

The market was hit by intense "panic selling" following an announcement from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) to freeze the rebalancing process for Indonesian stocks, sparking an emotional reaction from investors, according to antaranews.com

The decline was so severe that the exchange implemented a trading halt at 1.43 pm after the index temporarily touched an 8% drop. Market analysts noted that while the MSCI decision to withhold additional weighting for Indonesian equities acted as a catalyst, the scale of the sell-off was largely driven by short-term sentiment rather than a shift in national economic fundamentals. All eleven sectors closed in the red, with the energy sector suffering the steepest decline at 9.57%.

Despite the index crash, domestic economic indicators and major corporate performances remain stable. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure market integrity and prevent further speculative volatility.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)