S&P SMIT 40 Index launched by S&P Dow Jones Indices
PR Newswire
LONDON

LONDON, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices today announced the launch of the S&P SMIT 40 Index, designed to measure the performance of 40 leading companies from four emerging markets: South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey ("SMITs"). The index has been licensed by UniCredit to serve as the basis for structured products, to be issued in Germany and Austria. Marketed under the brand names "HypoVereinsbank onemarkets" in Germany and "UniCredit onemarkets" in Austria, the structured products will be listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart Stock Exchanges.

The S&P SMIT 40 Index represents the four largest markets of the Next Eleven (N-11).  The N-11, a concept developed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), are the eleven countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, and Vietnam) recognized by GSAM as having the potential for strong long-term growth (in addition to the BRIC countries). The Index is designed to be representative of these four equity markets yet be efficient to replicate in order to support financial products. 

Michael Orzano, associate director of global equity indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices commented, "Investors' interest in emerging market investments is beginning to mature, and they are looking for new ways to tap into this asset class. Interest in the BRICs has, to a certain extent, tapered off recently as their economic growth has cooled and stock markets have underperformed. In the meantime, interest in the SMIT countries appears to be continuing to grow across Europe and in the States."

The S&P SMIT 40 Index employs a transparent, rules-based methodology.  To be eligible for inclusion, stocks must have a float-adjusted market capitalization above US$1 billion and three-month average daily value traded above US$5 million. The largest ten eligible stocks in each country based on float-adjusted market capitalization are included in the index, and the four countries are equally weighted to enhance geographic diversification.    

For more information, 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.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices 

S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies 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.

 

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices