Two of Vanguard's international funds have switched indexes.
Vanguard European Stock Index Fund and Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund both began tracking FTSE indexes as of the opening of trading at 9:30 today.
Vanguard European Stock Index Fund, which previously tracked MSCI Europe Index, will now track FTSE Developed Europe Index. Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund, which followed MSCI Pacific Index, now tracks FTSE Developed Asia Pacific Index.
Following the switch, the names of the funds' ETF share classes will change, although their ticker symbols will remain the same. Vanguard MSCI Europe ETF will become Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK). Vanguard MSCI Pacific ETF will become Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL).
Vanguard also announced reduced expense ratios for various share classes of the funds. VGK and VPL both reported 2012 expense ratios of 12 basis points, down 2 bps from their expense ratios in 2011. The current expense ratios of the funds will not be affected by the transition, although Vanguard expects they may decrease in the future.
The funds are two of 22 that Vanguard announced in October 2012 would be adopting new indexes.
