S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility Index Launched by S&P Dow Jones Indices
New Index Measures the Performance of the 100 Least Volatile Stocks In the S&P Europe 350 Index
PR Newswire
LONDON

LONDON, Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices announced today the launch of the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index, which is designed to measure the performance of the least volatile stocks within the S&P Europe 350, an equity index drawn from 17 major European markets, covering approximately 70% of the region's market capitalization. The launch of the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index follows similar low volatility launches of indexes covering emerging markets and developed countries ex-US.

The constituents of the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index are weighted by the inverse of their volatility, with the least-volatile stocks receiving the highest weights. The Index's sector exposure is unconstrained and dynamic, responding only to volatility signals.

Vinit Srivastava, director of strategy indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices comments, "Given the volatility in the European equity markets, the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index provides market participants with a unique measuring tool for specific stock characteristics within the S&P Europe 350. This new, transparent Index exhibits strong risk and return characteristics, which could be expected to continue given the existence of low volatility anomalies in the equity markets."

The S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index follows the recent launch of the S&P 500 Low Volatility index and the S&P/TSX Composite Low Volatility index in the beginning of 2011, as well as the launch of the S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility index and the S&P International Developed (ex US) Low Volatility index late 2011.

S&P Dow Jones Indices recently published a white paper on the low volatility effect. To access this paper, please visit http://us.spindices.com/resource-center/thought-leadership/research/.

Below is a table of S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index's country weight (all data as of 29 June 2012):

Country

Country Weight

 

UK

46.96%

 

France

10.79%

 

Switzerland

10.12%

 

Germany

7.67%

 

Netherlands

6.40%

 

Belgium

4.04%

 

Sweden

3.60%

 

Norway

2.55%

 

Luxembourg

2.02%

 

Spain

1.77%

 

Ireland

0.93%

 

Italy

0.92%

 

Denmark

0.92%

 

Austria

0.81%

 

Portugal

0.50%

 

Grand Total

100.00%

 

Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices

 

 

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM), S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of institutional and retail investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 830,000 indices covering a wide range of assets classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.

Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones").  These trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P and their respective affiliates (collectively "S&P Dow Jones Indices") do not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any investment fund or other investment vehicle that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Dow Jones Indices does not have the necessary licenses. S&P Dow Jones Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

 

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices