On June 20, global equity index compiler MSCI will announce whether it is putting Saudi Arabia on a list for possible upgrade to emerging market status. Index firm FTSE will decide in September whether to make Riyadh a secondary emerging market. In late 2018, authorities aim to list national oil giant Saudi Aramco in Riyadh, selling about 5 percent in what is likely to be the world's biggest initial public offer of shares. Most fund managers think the index compiler is likely to put Riyadh on its review list on June 20. The actual decision on whether to include Saudi Arabia in MSCI's emerging market index would then occur in mid 2018, and if MSCI follows past procedures, inclusion would occur in mid 2019.
There is an estimated 1.6 trillion USD tracking MSCI EM, as of the end of June 2016. The inclusion assessment is based on the MSCI Market Classification Framework described in the MSCI Global Investable Market Index methodology. For Emerging Markets, the classification depends on two criteria: (1) whether the equity market meets minimum size and liquidity requirements and (2) whether it exhibits accessibility levels for international investors that are sufficient in the context of Emerging Markets.
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