“The FTSE Frontier Markets Index Series will provide investors with a comprehensive range of international markets benchmarks. As investment strategies continue to become more global, FTSE’s new series helps market participants to manage Frontier exposure with products based on our strong governance and transparency,” said FTSE Director of Index Research Marc De Luise in a statement.
FTSE has been steadily expanding its index offerings this year. Last month, the company introduced the FTSE Global Factor Index Series, a suite of factor-based global indices focusing on factors such as momentum and value. [FTSE Introduces Global Factor Indices]
In June, FTSE introduced a series of indices that will allow market participants to include China A-shares in global indices at a time of their choosing.
Although FTSE did not say in the statement if its new frontier series will soon by used by ETF providers, some established ETFs are already using FTSE indices to provide frontier exposure. The EGShares Beyond BRICs ETF (NYSEArca: BBRC), which is up nearly 17% this year after hitting an all-time high last Friday, tracks a FTSE index that provides non-BRIC emerging and frontier markets exposure. [Beyond BRICs ETF Hits $250M in AUM]
Over 100 North American ETFs track FTSE indices, including well-known names such as the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEArca: FXI) and the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: VWO).