The STOXX Country Classification Model is rules-based and transparent. The model is the first in the industry to exclude any subjectivity from the process. Our five criteria for the classification of a country as a developed or emerging market include macroeconomic data, market cap, market liquidity, free currency convertibility on onshore and offshore markets and restrictions on capital flows. The data sources for these diverse criteria are well known and independent global organizations (International Monetary Fund, World Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers).

STOXX continuously monitors countries throughout the year. Countries may be added or removed at any time from the watch list based on several factors, including economic, infrastructure and political events.

A formal reassessment of all country classifications is done annually in Q1, when a final classification assignment decision is made for each country. A public announcement of any classification changes resulting from the annual reassessment is released latest by April of each year. Implementation of the classification changes occurs with the quarterly index review in Q3 of the same year.