The STOXX Country Classification frameworks use transparent methodology, which is consulted with market participants and industry practitioners to represent investable markets.

A rule-based criteria for the classification of a country as a developed or emerging market in the STOXX Country Classification Framework include variety of screens – for more details, please see STOXX Index Methodology Guide.

STOXX also offers STOXX WORLD Country Classification Framework, which is designed for global investors. It uses multiple different screens inclusive of restrictions on foreign investments and discretionary decisions when appropriate. For more details, please see STOXX World Equity Index Methodology Guide.

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 an index review in Q3 of the same year.

STOXX monitors information about countries throughout the year. In extreme situations, which include economic, infrastructure and political events, STOXX reserves the right to change its country classification intra annually to reflect such events. For example, in such rare events, a country may be deleted from developed or emerging markets if appropriate.