Frontier Markets

Frontier Markets is an economic term which was coined by IFC’s Farida Khambata in 1992. It is commonly used to describe a subset of emerging markets (EMs).

Frontier markets (FMs) are investable but have lower market capitalization and liquidity than the more developed emerging markets. The frontier equity markets are typically pursued by investors seeking high, long term returns and low correlations with other markets.

Myanmar Suu Kyi

Suu Kyi Elected; Party Claims Myanmar Landslide

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament Sunday, as her National League for Democracy claimed a near-sweep in historic by-elections that will test Myanmar's reform credentials and could convince the West to end sanctions.
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to supporters from a vehicle at Yae Phyu village in Dawei township January 29, 2012.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Calls for Constitutional Changes

Awaiting the Great Transformation: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Sunday for changes to the military-drafted constitution in her first political trip since ending a boycott of the country's political system last year and announcing plans to run for parliament.
Nigerian Stock Exchange

Nigerian Stock Market to List its First Gold ETF

Nigeria's bourse is to list its first exchange traded fund (ETF) on Monday, a South African gold-backed fund that will broaden the exchange's range of products beyond equities and bonds, the stock exchange said on Friday.

Kenyan shilling, stocks tumble on global sell-off

The Kenyan shilling extended its tumble to touch a new record low of 93.58 against the dollar on Monday, while the benchmark share index fell 2 percent as the global sell-off of emerging and frontier assets hit local markets.

Ghana bourse sees four new listings in 2011

Ghana's stock exchange expects at least four new listings this year, including a local float by oil group Tullow Plc, and predicts that inflows of new pension funds will boost trading volumes.
A currency dealer counts Kenya shillings at a money exchange counter in Nairobi

Kenyan shilling firms against dollar

The Kenyan shilling firmed against the dollar on Friday after the greenback lost ground against major hard currencies, increasing investors' appetite for riskier assets.
Luang Prabang

Frontier market Laos opens stock exchange

While the recent volatility in the Bangladesh stock market raises worries about investing in the so-called “frontier markets,” another developing country, Laos, has opened its own new stock marke