Indonesia’s stock exchange is reviewing plans to widen its trading window, a move aimed at re-engaging global investors following substantial capital outflows earlier this year.
Iman Rachman, President Director of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), said in an interview that the bourse could either open earlier at 8 am to attract more Asian participation or close later at 5 pm to accommodate European traders. The exchange, which currently trades from 9am to 4pm, may also opt for a combination of both, with a decision expected within the next three months.
The proposal to stretch trading hours comes as Indonesian equities grapple with rising investor caution and significant foreign selling. Overseas investors have withdrawn $2.9 billion from local stocks so far in 2025—the largest net outflow in Southeast Asia, according to Bloomberg data.
Weak trade and manufacturing signals have heightened skepticism over Indonesia’s economic momentum, despite a technical rebound in stocks in the current quarter after entering bear market territory earlier this year.
Extending trading times could help boost liquidity and allow market participants to react more swiftly to global developments, Rachman said.
The exchange is also pushing ahead with plans to launch short-selling, which has been pushed back until at least September after recent bouts of volatility, and looks to introduce “liquidity providers” to deepen the market and ensure fairer prices, with 13 companies having already signed up for this role.
