Indexes
Indexed for growth – The democratisation of thematic indexes
Simon Karaban, head of index services at Singapore Exchange, talks about environmental, social and governance indexes and how the emergence of exchange-traded funds and wealth platforms is democratising thematic indexes, making them more accessible to…
Benchmark rules risk stifling innovation, says Stoxx chief
The Stoxx chief executive has urged European rule-makers to bring proposed new benchmark regulations into line with Iosco principles, and ditch onerous disclosure requirements
Providers set to spar amid multi-asset index boom
Major index houses set to bet big on new product class
Solactive: outfoxing the index big guns with fintech focus
Solactive has successfully carved out a niche as an alternative index provider, but it considers itself a fintech group first and foremost – an approach that chief executive Steffen Scheuble says has helped it grow to the point where it can outsmart…
Index provider of the year: MSCI
MSCI’s triumph is a recognition of its strong growth in risk factor-based indexes and ground-breaking derivatives products tied to them, built on a widely praised model of transparent index construction
Momentum strategies divide smart beta index developers
Index developers are rushing to design smart beta products that capture momentum but they are split over the best way to smooth losses when markets turn suddenly
Investors underestimating smart beta risks, academics warn
Smart beta strategies continue to experience a surge in popularity. But increasingly, academics and other market participants are warning that investors may be underestimating some of the risks associated with them
Index roundup: new GICS real-estate sector created
S&P and MSCI announce new GICS real-estate sector and new sub-industry for copper; Brent crude overtakes WTI in 2015 S&P GSCI re-weighting; Morocco reclassified as frontier country; Barclays and MSCI launch a Green Bond index family; S&P Dow Jones…
Risk premium strategies favoured over beta commodity indexes
Global trends show broad-based beta commodity index strategies are struggling while interest in more dynamic and alpha-based strategies, including risk premium strategies, are becoming more favoured.
Stoxx leads the way with value-focused smart-beta service
Stoxx secures the award for the most innovative index provider with its range of customer-focused smart beta solutions
New social media index includes fast-entry IPO rule
Index provider Solactive has created a social media index for Vontobel that includes a rule allowing for extraordinary adjustments in the event of new social media IPOs that meet the entry conditions
FTSE aiming to thrive under new benchmark regulation
FTSE has been at the forefront of many big investment themes, such as China, environmental, social and governance investing, and smart beta, to name just a few. Yakob Peterseil talks to Sudir Raju, the firm's head of exchange-traded product relationships…
IIA chief stresses best practice in wake of Libor scandal
The Index Industry Association was created only two years ago but now sits squarely in the middle of regulatory discussions about indexes. Chief executive Richard Redding discusses the association's new-found role
Ireland on a high in Russell Developed Europe Index
Ireland is the top performer in the Russell index; Nearly half of S&P 500 benchmark products sold outside US; FTSE launches Frontier Market Index Series; Solactive launches hedge fund replication index
Nasdaq and Exceed partner for structured products index
Nasdaq OMX and Exceed Investments have released a series of indexes based on structured products, offering US investors defined outcomes, increased transparency and capital protection in a passive vehicle
FTSE, Markit and Stoxx confirm compliance with Iosco
The principles, issued on July 2013, aim to promote benchmarks by addressing issues around governance, the quality of benchmark design and methodology, and accountability
A range of investable indices to meet client needs in alpha and beta generation
As part of Societe Generale's series of Meet the Experts presentations, Bruno Neukirch and Delphine Qiao discuss the SG Index platform.
Lyxor ETFs – Designed for performance
As part of Societe Generale's series of Meet the Experts presentations, Lydia Chan discusses exchange-traded funds
The credit market – Still many opportunities
As part of Societe Generale's series of Meet the Experts presentations, Pierre Trecourt and Mickael Seve discuss credit markets
Battle commences to become China benchmark index
China is the world's second-largest equity market, but so far there is no globally recognised stock market benchmark. As derivative and ETF providers increasingly focus on the sector, will one emerge?
Risk management and China's index market: video
A flurry of equity index launches in China will give rise to derivatives using these indexes as underlying, in turn benefiting domestic companies in search of hedging tools to risk-manage their portfolios