- Vietnam reclassification from Frontier to Secondary Emerging market status
- Nigeria reclassification from Unclassified to Frontier market status
FTSE Russell, the global index provider, today published the results of its March 2026 semi-annual country classification review for countries monitored by its global equity and fixed income indices.
Equities
FTSE Russell confirms the reclassification of Vietnam from Frontier to Secondary Emerging market status, effective from the open on Monday 21 September 2026,
The March interim assessment considered progress in enabling access to global brokers, which is essential to support index replication and meet the needs of the international investment community.
FTSE Russell recognises the progress made by the Vietnamese market authorities in evolving market infrastructure, including the removal of the prefunding requirement for Foreign Institutional Investors through the implementation of a non-prefunding model and the establishment of a formal process for handling failed trades.
FTSE Russell confirms that Vietnam meets all criteria for Secondary Emerging market status under the FTSE Equity Country Classification Framework and will continue to monitor developments closely ahead of the September 2026 effective date.
David Sol, Global Head of Policy at FTSE Russell, says:
“FTSE Russell welcomes the continued progress made by the Vietnamese market authorities in aligning with international standards. The March interim review confirms that the key enhancements required to support the planned reclassification in September 2026 remain on track.”
FTSE Russell confirms through the March 2026 interim review that Nigeria will be reclassified from Unclassified to Frontier market status and that Greece continues to meet all the requirements for reclassification from Advanced Emerging to Developed market status, with both reclassifications scheduled to take effect in conjunction with the FTSE Frontier annual review and the FTSE Global Equity Index Series September 2026 semi-annual review, effective from the open on Monday 21 September 2026.
Fixed income
FTSE Russell is pleased to announce that inclusion of South Korean government bonds in the FTSE World Government Bond Index has commenced effective with April 2026 index profiles and will be phased in over an eight-month period.
As previously announced, Slovakia will be added to the FTSE World Government Bond Index effective with the June 2026 index profiles, having met the relevant market size, credit rating and Market Accessibility Level requirements as of the September 2025 FTSE Fixed Income Country Classification Review.
More information on the Equity Country Classification and Fixed Income Country Classification an be found on our website. The next update will be published in September 2026.
