[By NBC-1TV E.H. Kim]The Russell Asia Pacific Index returned +11.1% year-to-date as of March 26, 2012.

The Russell Asia Pacific Small Cap Index returned +11.7% for this same period, followed by the Russell Asia Pacific Large Cap Index which returned +11.0% and the Russell Asia Pacific Mid Cap Index which returned +10.1%.

This year-to-date performance represents an about face from 2011, where the Russell Asia Pacific Indexes had negative performance across all cap tiers, with the Asia Pacific Small Cap Index leading negative performance with a (-16.3%) return for the year.

“The performance dispersion between large cap and small cap stocks in the Asia Pacific region as illustrated by Russell Asia Pacific Index returns has been an important development year-to-date,” said Sarah Lien, Senior Research Analyst for Russell Investments. “This is a complete reversal of the trend in 2011 when large-cap stocks were the star performers. Cap tier differentials appear to be driving recent market performance, more so than some other factors such as style, volatility and momentum.”