FTSE Russell noted significant improvements in Vietnamese stocks and maintained its plan to upgrade them to a secondary emerging market from 2026.

 

Early morning on April 8, 2026, Hanoi time, FTSE Russell announced the results of its mid-term review as part of its March 2026 stock market classification assessment.

 

According to the report, the rating agency noted significant progress in the Vietnamese stock market, particularly regarding market access through global securities firms. At the same time, FTSE Russell officially confirmed its commitment to maintaining the roadmap for upgrading Vietnam from a frontier market to a secondary emerging market, as announced in October 2025.

 

According to FTSE Russell, the issuance of Circular 08/2026/TT-BTC has officially established a legal framework ensuring foreign investors’ access to the Vietnamese stock market through global securities firms, while also improving regulations related to the non-prefunding mechanism. Regulatory bodies, domestic securities firms, global securities firms, custodian banks, and international institutional investors have agreed on an implementation model based on the aforementioned new mechanisms.

 

Based on this, the FTSE Russell Index Board confirmed the roadmap for upgrading from Frontier Market to Secondary Emerging Market. The inclusion of Vietnamese stocks in FTSE index baskets officially commenced on Monday, September 21, 2026.

 

To ensure a smooth transition, in line with market conditions, and to facilitate investors, the inclusion of Vietnamese stocks in FTSE Russell’s global indices will be implemented according to a roadmap consistent with FTSE Russell’s market rating practices, starting in September 2026 and completing in September 2027.

 

The State Securities Commission stated that the upgrade process is proceeding as planned, thanks to the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Finance, along with the coordination of relevant ministries and agencies, and the participation of market participants and international organizations.

 

According to the regulatory body, the upgrade not only reflects improvements in market structure and operation, but also opens up the possibility of attracting large-scale international investment flows, contributing to enhanced liquidity and strengthening Vietnam’s position in the global financial system.

 

FTSE Russell is one of the world’s three leading index providers, alongside MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices. Its indices are widely used globally, serving fund managers, financial institutions, banks, and many other institutional investors. In its classification system, FTSE Russell divides stock markets into four groups: developed, advanced emerging, secondary emerging, and frontier. In Asia, many economies such as China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Qatar are currently in the secondary emerging market group – the same classification as Vietnam.

 

Source: nhadautu.vn