BEIJING, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Indices announced today that it has licensed its world-renowned index, the S&P 500®, to Bosera Asset Management Co., Ltd. for the development of an index fund which was officially launched in China today.   

Widely considered the premier gauge of U.S. equity market performance since it was first introduced in 1957, the S&P 500 has over $5.58 trillion benchmarked to it globally and approximately $1.3 trillion indexed to it via index funds and exchange traded products. The S&P 500 includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy, capturing approximately 75% coverage of U.S. equities.

"Today's announcement is another milestone in the development of the domestic financial market in China," said Alexander Matturri, Executive Managing Director at S&P Indices. "S&P Indices is excited to play a major role in the continuing development and robust growth of China's investment landscape. Our licensing agreement with Bosera Asset Management means that Chinese investors will now be able to directly track the returns of the large cap U.S. equities market and gain an important index solution and diversification tool for their portfolio."

"We're excited to work with S&P Indices to bring the world's most followed stock market index to Chinese investors," said Mr. HE Bao, President of Bosera Asset Management Co., Ltd.. "This initiative has been driven by domestic demand for a greater and more diversified range of investment opportunities, including access to international markets. Our cooperation with S&P Indices brings this to fruition for Chinese investors and also benefits the markets generally by enhancing investment and liquidity across borders."

For more information about the S&P 500, please visit: www.spindices.com/sp500

About S&P Indices 
S&P Indices, a leading brand of the McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), maintains a wide variety of investable and benchmark indices to meet an array of investor needs. Over $1.45 trillion is directly indexed to our indices, which includes the S&P 500, the world's most followed stock market index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, the S&P Global BMI, an index with approximately 11,000 constituents, the S&P GSCI, the industry's most closely watched commodities index, and the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, the premier investable index for U.S. municipal bonds. For more information, please visit: www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Indices does not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any S&P index-based investment product. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Indices or its affiliates do not have the necessary licenses. S&P Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

SOURCE S&P Indices