SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - May 4, 2012) - The Russell Frontier Index returned +5.7% year-to-date as of April 30, 2012, while the Russell Emerging Markets Index returned +13.2% for the same time period. Both indexes are positive year-to-date after exhibiting negative performance in 2011.

Within the Russell Frontier Index, after 2011 when all but one country constituent had negative performance, 75% of countries had positive performance year-to-date as of April 30, with Vietnam, Pakistan and Kenya leading.

Within the Russell Emerging Markets Index, after 2011 when more than 85% of country constituents had negative performance, more than 90% of countries had positive performance year-to-date as of April 30, with Egypt, Turkey and Thailand leading.

"The positive returns we've witnessed this year across many of the emerging and frontier markets is a marked change from last year," said Sarah Lien, Senior Research Analyst for Russell Investments. "Vietnam, for instance, was one of 2011's worst performers but has rebounded very strongly year-to-date. Egypt and Turkey have also posted strong returns in 2012 after geo-political concerns appear to have weighed on these stock markets last year."

Russell Index Returns

Russell Index	2012 YTD Returns as of 4/30/12	2011 Returns
Russell Frontier Index	5.7%	-20.7%
Russell Emerging Markets Index	13.2%	-19.2%

Russell Frontier Index Country Returns

Russell Frontier Index Country	2012 YTD Returns as of 4/30/12	2011 Returns
Vietnam	35.1%	-31.8%
Pakistan	24.2%	-12.0%
Kenya	21.4%	-29.5%
Nigeria	16.1%	-26.1%
Ukraine	12.5%	-41.7%
Qatar	6.8%	7.2%
Oman	5.3%	-10.8%
Tunisia	4.3%	-11.5%
Kuwait	1.2%	-12.9%
Bangladesh	-1.6%	-41.8%
Sri Lanka	-16.5%	-25.2%
Argentina	-16.9%	-25.9%

Russell Emerging Markets Index Country Returns

Russell Emerging Markets Index Country	2012 YTD Returns as of 4/30/12	2011 Returns
Egypt	35.2%	-45.3%
Turkey	27.1%	-35.1%
Thailand	26.9%	-4.7%
Philippines	26.3%	2.9%
Colombia	22.7%	-12.8%
United Arab Emirates (UAE)	22.3%	-15.5%
Peru	18.9%	-13.7%
Chile	18.4%	-22.3%
Poland	16.3%	-30.4%
Mexico	15.4%	-13.2%
India	15.2%	-37.6%
Russia	14.8%	-20.5%
China	13.9%	-20.8%
Korea	13.6%	-11.0%
South Africa	12.8%	-14.4%
Greece	10.7%	-56.7%
Taiwan	10.5%	-22.2%
Malaysia	8.6%	0.9%
Brazil	7.8%	-20.1%
Indonesia	6.6%	4.4%
Portugal	-1.8%	-27.5%
Morocco	-4.0%	-14.5%

The Russell Global Index includes more than 10,000 securities in 48 countries and covers 98% of the investable global market. All securities in the benchmark are classified according to size, region, country and sector. Daily Returns for the main components are available here: http://www.russell.com/indexes/data/daily_total_returns_global.asp

Disclaimer: http://www.russell.com/indexes/about/index_alerts.asp#disclaimer