Macquarie adds to infrastructure index series

Macquarie has launched its Emerging Markets Infrastructure and Development Index (Memidi), which tracks the rise in infrastructure spending due to demand from urbanites in emerging markets economies by reference to the performance of the 50 largest emerging markets infrastructure-related companies

“This year, for the first time in history, the world's urban population will equal the rural population,” says Stewart Ferns, equity strategist for Macquarie Research Equities. “Our index includes companies directly benefiting from this trend, which is what investors are looking for at the moment.” Investors are drawn to emerging markets in the search for higher returns from faster rates of economic growth.

Assets in emerging markets equity and bond mutual funds worldwide exceed $600 billion now