FTSE Emerging Index

The  is a free-float, market-capitalization weighted index representing the performance of around 850 large and mid cap companies in 22 emerging markets. The index is derived from the FTSE Global Equity Index Series. The index was launched on June 30, 2000 (base date December 31, 1986).

The index is tracked by the Vanguard Emerging Markets index fund investor shares (VEIEX) and admiral shares (VEMAX); and the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO).

Methodology
FTSE index methodology is summarized in the table:

Country constituents
The table lists the twenty two national stock markets included in the index. As of June 2013, six countries (China, Brazil, Taiwan, South Africa, India, and Russia) comprise nearly three quarters of the index market capitalization. The index does not, like some emerging market indexes, include South Korea, which is a member of the FTSE Developed ex North America Index

FTSE further divides emerging markets into an advanced emerging market category and a secondary emerging market category. Countries promoted to advanced emerging status include Poland (2008), Hungary (2008), Czech Republic (2011), Malaysia (2011), Thailand (2012) and Turkey (2011). In 2010 UAE was promoted to secondary emerging status and Argentina was demoted from secondary emerging to frontier status.

Annual returns
Annual returns for the index for the period 2003 - 2014 are included in the table below. Benchmark returns are adjusted for withholding taxes.