Riga Stock Exchange                                                                        22.12.2005



The Baltic stock exchanges to introduce global industry classification standard for I-list companies



As a part of the integration of the Nordic and Baltic securities markets, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius 

stock exchanges will introduce Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) for classifying I-List 

securities as of January 1, 2006.



A common industry classification improves notably the international comparability of the listed companies, 

and provides companies with a clearly defined and larger peer group. 

Currently all OMX exchanges (Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius) use the same 

classification standard for the listed companies. The GICS classification is also in use at the exchanges 

in Oslo, and Iceland. Since July 1, 2005, the Baltic stock exchanges first introduced the GICS classification 

standard for their Main List companies.



The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) is developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International 

(MSCI) and Standard & Poor's (S&P), who estimate that it covers approximately 95 percent of the world’s equity 

market capitalization. GICS facilitates industry analysis by classifying companies at four different levels: 

sectors, industry groups, industries and sub-industries. The classification is based upon the business area 

that generates the majority of the company’s revenues. The 10 sectors in the GICS classification are: Energy, 

Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Health Care, Financials, Information Technology, 

Telecommunication Services and Utilities. 



For more information, please contact:

Inese Purgaile, Corporate Communications Specialist  

OMX Exchanges/ Riga Stock Exchange +371 7212431



Diana Sokolova, Marketing and Communications Manager

OMX Exchanges/ Vilnius Stock Exchange +370 5 272 13 71



Tex Vertmann, Communications Manager 

OMX Exchanges/ Tallinn Stock Exchange +372 640 8862