MSCI Barra, a leading global provider of benchmark indices and risk management analytics products, announced yesterday that it will consult with the investment community on a proposal to construct indices for the “frontier markets” countries. In particular, MSCI Barra will seek feedback on the definition of the frontier markets universe, the investment process needs relating to frontier markets investing, and the objectives as well as the design of any proposed frontier markets indices.
MSCI Barra has posted a consultation document describing the proposed frontier markets indices on MSCI Barra’s web site at http://www.mscibarra.com/products/consultations/ and welcomes any feedback from the investment community. MSCI Barra also plans to directly contact certain market participants to solicit feedback.
Please note that this consultation may or may not lead to the creation of any frontier markets indices as proposed in the consultation document. MSCI Barra’s final decision will be announced in advance of the launch of such indices if it occurs.
