NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, and Wilshire Associates, a leading global investment services and consulting firm, today announced Bahrain, Kuwait and Sri Lanka will be added to the Dow Jones Wilshire Global index family. The additions will become effective as of the start of trading on March 24, 2008, after the regular quarterly review of the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Indexes.
The inclusion of these three countries to the Dow Jones Wilshire Global index family increases the total number of countries in the index suite to 61.
All three countries will be added to the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index(sm), Dow Jones Wilshire Global exUS Index(sm) and Dow Jones Wilshire Emerging Markets Index(sm). Bahrain and Kuwait also will join the Dow Jones Wilshire Middle East & Africa Index. Sri Lanka will join the Dow Jones Wilshire Asia-Pacific Index(sm).
"The decision to include Bahrain, Kuwait and Sri Lanka in the Dow Jones Wilshire Global index suite reflects the growing importance of these emerging markets to the world's investment community and ensures the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index provides institutional investors with the broadest coverage of international equities," said Michael A. Petronella, president of Dow Jones Indexes.
Lawrence E. Davanzo, president of Wilshire Associates and head of its investment management businesses, noted, "As managers continue to extend their search for performance -- especially in emerging markets -- we're seeing more of these markets taking steps to foster a more desirable investment environment for foreign investors. Adding these countries recognizes both the investability of these markets and the increased interest of institutional and retail investors in these markets," he added.
As of January 14, 2008, 8 Bahraini, 69 Kuwaiti, and 18 Sri Lankan companies are expected to be added to the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index and respective regional and country indexes. The final component count will be available on March 24, 2008. There are currently 12,822 stocks in the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index.
The Dow Jones Wilshire Bahrain Index, Dow Jones Wilshire Kuwait Index and Dow Jones Wilshire Sri Lanka Index will have initial index values of 1,000.00 on March 23, 2008. The Dow Jones Wilshire Global Indexes are calculated in price and total return and weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization. Further information can be found on www.djindexes.com.
About the Dow Jones Wilshire Index Family
The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000(sm) is the primary domestic component of the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index and a cornerstone of the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Index Family. The development of the global family of indexes in 2006 marked a new phase of the Dow Jones Wilshire relationship. The affiliation began in 2004 when Dow Jones Indexes and Wilshire co-branded and marketed the Dow Jones Wilshire family of indexes. By extending the Dow Jones Wilshire methodology used in the U.S. internationally, the global indexes provide unprecedented breadth, consistent global coverage, and objective and transparent rules.
Dow Jones Wilshire indexes are available on market-data vendor platforms -- many in real-time format -- and on the Dow Jones Indexes (www.djindexes.com) and Wilshire Associates (www.wilshire.com) Web sites. The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000(sm) Composite Index, the only true broad market index, is calculated and distributed by Dow Jones Indexes pursuant to an agreement between Dow Jones & Company and Wilshire Associates Incorporated. The Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index, the broadest measure of global equities, was launched in October 2006.
Journalists may e-mail questions regarding this press release to PRIndexes@dowjones.com or contact Dow Jones Indexes/STOXX press office:
New York: +1-212-597-5720 Frankfurt: +49-69-29-725-290 To contact Wilshire Associates public relations, please email kim.shepherd@wilshire.com or call: Chicago: Kim Shepherd, +1-312-762-5504.
Note to Editors:
About Dow Jones Indexes
A full-service index provider, Dow Jones Indexes develops, maintains and licenses indexes for use as benchmarks and as the basis of investment products. Best known for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Dow Jones Indexes also is co-owner of the Dow Jones STOXX indexes, the world's leading pan-European indexes, and together with Wilshire Associates, provides the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Index family, which is anchored by the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 and covers more than 12,000 securities in 59 markets. Beyond equity indexes, Dow Jones Indexes maintains a number of alternative indexes, including measures of the hedge fund and commodity markets. Dow Jones indexes are maintained according to clear, unbiased and systematic methodologies that are fully integrated within index families. www.djindexes.com
Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com) is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE:NWS) (NYSE:NWS.A) (ASX:NWS) (ASX:NWSLV) (www.newscorp.com). Dow Jones is a leading provider of global business news and information services. Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group includes Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions, Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones owns 50% of SmartMoney and 33% of Stoxx Ltd. and provides news content to radio stations in the U.S.
About Wilshire Associates
Wilshire Associates is a leading global investment technology, investment consulting and investment management firm with four business units: Wilshire Analytics, Wilshire Funds Management, Wilshire Consulting, and Wilshire Private Markets. The firm was founded in 1972, revolutionizing the industry by pioneering the application of investment analytics and research to investment management for the institutional marketplace. Wilshire also is credited with helping to develop the field of quantitative investment analysis that uses mathematical tools to analyze market risks. All other business units evolved from Wilshire's strong analytics foundation.
Wilshire developed the index now known as the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite Index(sm), the first asset/liability models for pension funds, the first U.S. equity style metrics work and many other "firsts" as the firm grew to approximately 350 employees serving the investment needs of institutional and high net worth clients around the world.
Based in Santa Monica, CA, Wilshire provides services to clients in more than 20 countries representing in excess of 600 organizations with assets totaling more than $12.5 trillion. With nine offices on four continents, Wilshire Associates and its affiliates are dedicated to providing clients with the highest quality counsel, products and services. Please visit www.wilshire.com for more information.
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