SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Jan 7, 2016) - 2016 has begun with fresh headlines -- and volatility -- for Chinese equities, with a disappointing PMI reading, a sharp selloff and two early market closes impacting global equity market returns to start the new year. Yet recent analysis from FTSE Russell shows that returns across China are not always uniform and very much depend on point of access.

On the first trading day of the year, the FTSE China A50 Index, measuring the largest 50 Chinese stocks trading on mainland China exchanges, fell 5.9%. The FTSE China 50 Index, which measures the largest 50 Chinese stocks trading on Hong Kong exchanges, fell 3.3%. And the FTSE China N Share All Cap Index, which measures Chinese stocks trading on the US NYSE, NASDAQ and NYSE MKT exchanges, fell 4.4%. And for the three and twelve months ended 4 January, these three indexes exhibited an even wider range of results. 

Mat Lystra, Senior Index Research Analyst, FTSE Russell:
 "Like many other emerging stock markets, equity returns for China have faced headwinds recently. However, China is also a rapidly evolving and segmented market, reflected in the diversity of access points for investors and the distinct characteristics and return histories of its share classes. Recent China share class performance, while short term in nature, helps to illustrate the potential benefits of having a diversified lens into China and the importance of hiqh quality index tools to provide a complete view of the market."

More research and insights from Mat Lystra and other FTSE Russell index experts can be found on the new FTSE Russell blog.

About FTSE Russell:
 FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 80 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $10 trillion is currently benchmarked to the FTSE Russell indexes. For more than 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have used FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance, and embraces the IOSCO principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and client collaboration as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

© 2016 London Stock Exchange Group companies.

London Stock Exchange Group companies includes FTSE International Limited ("FTSE"), Frank Russell Company ("Russell"), MTS Next Limited ("MTS"), and FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc ("FTSE TMX"). All rights reserved.

Views expressed by Mat Lystra are as of January 7, 2016, and are subject to change.

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