S&P expands range of risk control indices for investors

News - Shares

Written by Ray Clancy

Thursday, 26 August 2010 09:28

With market volatility remaining, Standard & Poor’s, the world’s leading index provider, is extending its range of risk control indices with the launch of two risk control index series.

The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control Index Series and the S&P Nordic LargeCap Daily Risk Control Index Series seek to provide investors greater stability and control over the risk level of the underlying index by establishing a specific volatility target.

It also provides investors with a way to gain exposure to large cap, blue chip companies within the S&P 500 that have followed a policy of increasing dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years, whilst limiting the level of risk.

This is the first such strategy index dedicated to providing exposure to true blue chip companies with managed dividend policies, the company said. Risk control levels of 8%, 10%, 12% and 15% are offered.

The S&P Nordic LargeCap Daily Risk Control Index Series seeks to provide large cap investable exposure to the Nordic equity markets, including Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, whilst controlling risk. It utilises the S&P Global Broad Market Index (BMI) and has target volatilities of 10%, 15% and 18%.

‘As investor risk appetite returns to the market, the concept of equity investing with associated risk control has grown in appeal. Whilst demand for risk control indices around emerging markets and themes, such as clean energy and infrastructure, remains high, we are seeing an increased interest for risk control on strategy indices and developed equity markets, including Europe, the Nordics and the US,’ said Steve Goldin, vice president of Strategy Indices at S&P Indices.

‘The launch of these new indices reaffirms Standard & Poor’s position as the leading independent index provider to offer new levels of innovation for investors looking to control risk,’ he added.

S&P'’ risk control methodology is a fully flexible risk control solution, which can be applied to any S&P Index.