dow jones wilshire global index family expands to include three new countries
Bahrain, Kuwait and Sri Lanka to be added at regular quarterly review
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 IndexSM, Dow Jones Wilshire Global exUS IndexSM and Dow Jones Wilshire Emerging Markets IndexSM. Bahrain and Kuwait also will join the Dow Jones Wilshire Middle East & Africa Index. Sri Lanka will join the Dow Jones Wilshire Asia-Pacific IndexSM.
“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.
