Investing August 1, 2003

MSCI: Asian Issues Lead July World Equities

August 1, 2003 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The MSCI All Country World Index Free turned in a 2.08% July return with a particularly strong showing from Asian issues, MSCI said.
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Measured year to date, the index has returned 12.4%, but is still in the red over the long term, MSCI said in a news release. The index, a free float-adjusted market capitalization index measuring equity market performance in 23 developed markets and 26 emerging markets, has lost 12.51% over three years and 3.71% over five years.

Meanwhile, the MSCI World Index, which segregates the 23 developed markets had a slight July advance of 1.92% and a more respectable 12.06% since January 1. The World Index gave back 12.78% over three years and 3.89% over five years.

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The emerging markets portion of the All Country index, measured in the MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index, turned in a comparatively strong 5.99% for July, but really wowed them on a year to date basis with a boffo 20.72%.  

Among the particularly strong July performers in MSCI’s global equity indices were:

  • Emerging Markets Free Asian Index (8.87% in July and 19.79% year to date
  • Japan Index (4.06% in July and 6.49% year to date.

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