The global leading index provider FTSE Russell published the announcement regarding the indicative results of the semi-annual review that will enter into force starting from March 23rd, 2026. The indicative results announced may be subject to revision until the end of March 6th, 2026, according to Romania Journal.
According to the announcement available HERE, 8 Romanian companies included in the FTSE Global All Cap indices and 3 Romanian companies included in the FTSE Global Micro Cap indices dedicated to Emerging Markets, were maintained in these global indices.
The announcement published also brought a series of composition changes as follows: the shares of Simtel Team (SMTL) will be included in the FTSE Global Micro Cap indices, after the company has met the relevant quantitative requirements for these indices. The shares of OMV Petrom (SNP) will no longer be part of the FTSE Global All Cap indices as they did not meet the liquidity criterion necessary to remain in these indices. The liquidity assessment period was January – December 2025. OMV Petrom (SNP) may be re-included in the FTSE Global All Cap indices after a period of at least 12 months of being outside the indices, provided that the liquidity criteria and other eligibility requirements provided by the FTSE Russell methodology are cumulatively met.
Starting from March 2026, Romania will continue to be represented in the FTSE Russell indices with 12 companies, of which 8 companies included in the FTSE Global All Cap indices – Banca Transilvania (TLV), Electrica (EL), Hidroelectrica (H2O), MedLife (M), Nuclearelectrica (SNN), One United Properties (ONE), Teraplast (TRP), and TTS Transport Trade Services (TTS), and 4 companies included in the FTSE Global Micro Cap indices – Arobs Transilvania Software (AROBS), Bursa de Valori Bucuresti (BVB), and Purcari Wineries (WINE) and Simtel Team (SMTL).
Romania was promoted to the Emerging Market status by the global index provider FTSE Russell in 2020, as a recognition of the development of the capital market. This recognition created new opportunities for the Romanian capital market, paving the way toward a significantly broader investment universe. The international exposure of Romanian companies translates into the attraction of new investors and increased demand for Romanian assets, which is expected to lead to improved valuations of listed companies and higher capitalization of the local market.
At the same time, in June last year, global index provider MSCI classified the Romanian capital market as an Advanced Frontier Market, in recognition of the high degree of accessibility of the Romanian capital market for international investors. Currently, 35 Romanian companies are included in the MSCI indices.
FTSE Russell, as a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), this global index provider acts as the invisible architect of investment strategies, benchmaking trillions of dollars in assets and defining the boundaries of developed, emerging, and frontier markets.
The fusion of two financial titans
The entity we recognize today as FTSE Russell is the result of a massive 2015 integration. By combining the UK-based FTSE Group (Financial Times Stock Exchange) with the US-based Russell Investments, LSEG created a data powerhouse.
Today, the organization provides a comprehensive view of the global equity and fixed-income markets, ranging from the blue-chip giants of the FTSE 100 to the small-cap innovators within the Russell 2000.
Market classification: The gatekeeper of global capital
One of the most critical roles FTSE Russell plays is the annual classification of stock markets. For an emerging economy, being upgraded from “Frontier” to “Secondary Emerging” or “Developed” by FTSE Russell is often a catalyst for massive capital inflows.
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The Watchlist mechanism: Before any change occurs, countries are placed on a “Watchlist,” allowing institutional investors to prepare for shifts in index weighting.
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Objective criteria: Classification is not political; it is based on market liquidity, regulatory transparency, and ease of capital repatriation.
The benchmark of choice for institutional investors
The influence of FTSE Russell is best measured by the sheer volume of wealth that tracks its indices. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and mutual funds globally use these benchmarks to build their portfolios.
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Passive investment dominance: As more investors shift toward passive strategies, the composition of a FTSE index dictates which stocks are bought and sold automatically by algorithms.
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The Russell 2000 indicator: In the United States, the Russell 2000 is considered the definitive barometer for the health of the domestic economy, as it focuses on smaller, domestic-oriented companies rather than multinationals.
Driving the ESG revolution in 2026
In the current financial landscape, FTSE Russell has become a leader in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data. Its “FTSE4Good” index series has set the standard for socially responsible investing.
| Index Series | Focus Area | Impact |
| FTSE 100 | Top 100 UK companies | Main indicator of British economic health |
| Russell 2000 | US small-cap stocks | Barometer for American domestic growth |
| FTSE Emerging | High-growth global markets | Vital for diversifying institutional portfolios |
| FTSE4Good | Sustainability leaders | Encourages corporate ESG transparency |
Innovation in fixed income and multi-asset solutions
Beyond equities, FTSE Russell has expanded aggressively into the fixed-income market through its World Government Bond Index (WGBI). In 2026, the inclusion of specific sovereign bonds into these indices remains a high-stakes event for national treasuries, as inclusion significantly lowers borrowing costs for governments.
