Greece Rejoins Developed Markets: FTSE Russell Upgrades Athens Stock Exchange

In a landmark improvement for the Greek superior markets, FTSE Russell has officially announced the reclassification of the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) to Developed Market status, marking a captious instrumentality to the world’s mature economies. The determination volition instrumentality effect connected Monday, September 21, 2026, ending much than a decennary of Greece’s designation arsenic an “Advanced Emerging Market” pursuing its downgrade during the sovereign indebtedness crisis.

A Vote of Confidence successful the Greek Economy

The upgrade underscores the country’s palmy structural reforms and the resilience of its fiscal system, peculiarly successful enhancing marketplace transparency, capitalist protection, and operational efficiency. According to FTSE Russell’s statement, Greece present afloat meets each 22 of the FTSE Quality of Markets criteria, which are prerequisites for inclusion successful the Developed Markets classification. These criteria cover:

• Regulatory situation and governance
• Market infrastructure and colony systems
• Liquidity and accessibility for planetary investors
• Transparency and firm governance standards

The past clip Greece was classified arsenic a Developed Market by FTSE Russell was earlier 2015, erstwhile economical instability and marketplace dysfunction led to its demotion amid the eurozone indebtedness crisis.

Market Fundamentals Back the Move

As of June 30, 2025, ATHEX met each cardinal quantitative thresholds, including:

• Sufficient free-float marketplace capitalization
• Number of investable securities
• Active trading volumes and marketplace liquidity

The determination was further reinforced by Greece’s macroeconomic betterment and planetary creditworthiness. The state present enjoys:

• High Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, based connected the World Bank’s Atlas method
• Investment Grade ratings from each 3 large recognition standing agencies, with Stable oregon Positive outlooks

These conditions enactment a favorable concern clime and awesome lasting stableness successful Greece’s fiscal and economical environment.

Strategic Implications for Investors and ATHEX

The reclassification is expected to broaden the capitalist base, attracting larger inflows from planetary organization investors and index-tracking funds that are mandated to put lone successful Developed Markets. This could pb to:

• Increased trading volumes and liquidity
• Greater pricing efficiency
• Reduced outgo of superior for Greek-listed companies

In applicable terms, ATHEX volition present beryllium included successful Developed Market benchmarks, including assorted FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS) products, which tin importantly rise the illustration of Greek assets successful planetary portfolios.

“This designation by FTSE Russell validates the reforms we’ve implemented and confirms our strategical trajectory towards semipermanent growth,” said a elder authoritative from the Hellenic Capital Market Commission.

A Turning Point for the Greek Capital Market

This upgrade is not conscionable symbolic; it marks a tangible displacement successful Greece’s planetary fiscal standing. After years of marketplace underperformance, superior controls, and political-economic uncertainty, Greece is erstwhile again being recognized arsenic a stable, mature, and investment-grade market.

It besides aligns Greece with different European peers successful the Developed Market class and signals its reintegration into the halfway of the planetary fiscal system.

Looking Ahead

The interaction of this determination volition apt beryllium felt agelong earlier September 2026, arsenic planetary money managers statesman to rebalance portfolios successful anticipation of the reclassification.

Moreover, the credibility boost for the Greek system could catalyze further overseas nonstop concern (FDI), firm listings, and a much competitory and innovative fiscal ecosystem successful Athens.

Greece’s instrumentality to the Developed Markets nine is much than a method upgrade — it’s a designation of nationalist resilience and a reintroduction to the planetary concern community.

Source: pagenews.gr