FTSE has extended the coverage of its FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Real Estate Index Series, a closely watched real estate benchmark worldwide. The index provider has added 12 new emerging market indices to the series.

The new indices allow investors to track the relative performance of listed property in emerging countries, and will combine with those existing indices covering developed markets to form an expanded FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Real Estate Index Series.

The FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Markets Index Series provides investors with a diverse representation of over 70 publicly traded equity real estate investment trusts (Reits) and listed property companies from 13 emerging markets across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The emerging markets were identified using FTSE's country classification system -- a transparent approach to assigning market status -- and include Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey.

The new indices in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Markets Index Series are: 

  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Index
  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging EMEA Index
  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Europe Index
  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Middle East/Africa Index
  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Americas Index
  • FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Emerging Asia Pacific Index

Phase two of the series expansion is scheduled for March 22 and will cover new global indices containing both developed and emerging constituents, new developed indices incorporating Israel, and existing global indices to be renamed developed.

Phase three is scheduled for June and will include the launch of Reit/non-Reit, rental and non-rental, and property sector indices that cover the key regions.