Oman exchange expects FTSE emerging market upgrade, trio of IPOs in 2027
Oman expects to meet the requirements for an upgrade to emerging market status by index provider FTSE Russell, aided by a trio of upcoming listings, the head of Muscat Stock Exchange said.MSX was adde...
Oman's stock exchange, Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), anticipates a potential upgrade to emerging market status by FTSE Russell, a top index provider. This is due to the country's plans to list three firms in 2027, according to MSX CEO Haitham Salim al-Salmi. MSX was recently added to FTSE Russell's watchlist for possible reclassification from frontier market status.
This could boost foreign investor interest and passive fund inflows. Al-Salmi stated that while an upgrade is not confirmed, the exchange is confident in meeting FTSE Russell's quantitative thresholds. The upcoming IPOs and the successful listing of Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO) in July are expected to aid in this process.
An upgrade could take effect as early as October 2027, with the full reclassification occurring five to six months later. MSX also plans to launch its first exchange-traded fund before the end of the year and introduce futures and derivatives trading by 2028. The exchange aims to improve liquidity to attract more international investors.
Oman's stock market has risen by nearly 25% this year due to its geographical advantage, which puts it outside the Iran war's central chokepoint. Foreign investors currently account for around 19% of MSX trading activity.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
