ACWI
MSCI ACWI hero image

MSCI ACWI intro
MSCI ACWI Index
The MSCI ACWI Index, MSCI’s flagship global equity index, is designed to represent performance of the full opportunity set of large- and mid-cap stocks across 23 developed and 27 emerging markets. As of November 2020, it covers more than 3,000 constituents across 11 sectors and approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each market. The index is built using MSCI’s Global Investable Market Index (GIMI) methodology, which is designed to take into account variations reflecting conditions across regions, marketcap sizes, sectors, style segments and combinations.
MSCI ACWI Index market allocation

Historical research has shown that investment outcome success is predominately determined by the allocation decision process.1
- Investors are increasingly looking beyond their home market toward the full global equity opportunity set as the starting point for their investments
- Allocation decisions that start with the full opportunity set can be adjusted based on investor goals, expertise, philosophy and constraints
- Not considering the full opportunity set can introduce unintended bets and biases/risks, and can be an investment decision in itself
1 G. Brinson, L. Randolf Hood and G. Beebower. (1986). ”Determinants of Portfolio Performance.” Financial Analysts Journal, July/August.
A BUILDING BLOCK APPROACH
Our building block approach
MSCI ACWI Indexes offer a building block approach with a rules-based, consistent and transparent methodology.
Using MSCI ACWI as a framework to build portfolios helps to avoid unintended bets and risks.
Robust foundation allows investors to measure exposure to all sources of equity returns using a single global framework.
MSCI ACWI
MSCI ACWI INDEX DAILY PERFORMANCE
Index Preview
FLAGSHIP INDEXES
- MSCI ACWI: Covers more than 2,900 securities across large and mid-cap size segments and across style and sector segments in 49 developed and emerging markets.
Performance | Factsheet - MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index (IMI): Covers more than 8,000 securities across large, mid and small-cap size segments and across style and sector segments in 49 developed and emerging markets.
Performance | Factsheet - MSCI ACWI All Cap Index: Covers more than 14,000 securities and includes large, mid, small and micro-cap size segments for all developed markets countries plus large, mid and small-cap size segments for emerging markets.
Performance | Factsheet
APPLICATIONS
The MSCI ACWI Index provides a broad global equity benchmark to support:
- Asset allocation: Consistent, complete representation that captures the full spectrum of the global equity opportunity set without home bias.
- Performance measurement and attribution: The industry-leading benchmark for global mandates, with regional, country, sector and other subsets available for more targeted investment mandates.
- Research: A trusted source for global equity markets and underlying security-level data for sell-side research.
- Investment product development: May be licensed for use as the basis for structured products and other index-linked investment vehicles, such as ETFs and ETNs.
Featured content

MSCI Investment Insights Report 2021
We surveyed 200 institutional investors globally with assets of around $18 trillion to better understand their views on the most important investment issues. What are the most important trends for the next three to five years? What is the lasting impact of COVID-19? And what is their latest thinking on factor investing, risk management, and diversity?
MSCI ACWI
MSCI ACWI
MSCI ACWI captures large and mid cap representation across 23 Developed Markets (DM) and 27 Emerging Markets (EM) countries.
MSCI ACWI ALL CAP
MSCI ACWI ALL CAP
The MSCI ACWI All Cap Index captures large, mid, small and micro cap representation across 23 Developed Markets (DM) countries and large, mid and small cap representation across 27 Emerging Markets (EM) countries.
MSCI ACWI IMI
MSCI ACWI IMI
The MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index (IMI) captures large, mid and small cap representation across 23 Developed Markets (DM) and 27 Emerging Markets (EM) countries.
INTERESTED IN INDEXES?
Select topics and stay current with our award winning research, industry events and latest products.