Products October 14, 2010

State Street Releases Risk Index

State Street Global Markets announced the launch of its Systemic Risk Index that measures the U.S. equity market’s vulnerability to market shocks.
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A news release said the Systemic Risk Index describes the degree to which a small number of macro risk factors, as opposed to stock- or industry-specific news, can drive stock returns.

The components of State Street’s Systemic Risk Index are made up of approximately 60 industrial sectors. The Index provides a single, daily measure of fragility and can help portfolio managers determine when they should consider hedging their portfolios or change investment strategies, the company said.

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“In today’s market, investors are continually looking for new ways to manage risk in their portfolios,” said Will Kinlaw, managing director and head of Portfolio and Risk Management Research at State Street Global Markets, in the news release. “State Street’s Systemic Risk Index is designed to provide institutional investors with an early indication of fragility within the U.S. market so that they can adjust their strategies accordingly and maximize returns even in a difficult market environment.”

The Systemic Risk Index was developed by State Street Associates in collaboration with Windham Capital Management, LLC, a Boston-based investment management boutique. 

Deals & People October 14, 2010

GEAM Hires Johnson for Sales Post

GE Asset Management (GEAM) has hired Steve Johnson as Senior Vice President and Head of Sales – U.S. and Asia.
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A news release said he will oversee a team responsible for the sale of GEAM’s equity, fixed-income, and alternative asset strategies to institutional investors. Additionally, Johnson will help set strategic direction for product distribution in these markets, working with the organization’s consultant relations, marketing, and product development groups.

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, Johnson reports to Maureen Mitchell, GEAM’s President of Institutional Sales and Marketing.

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Johnson joins GEAM from Third Avenue Management, where he was Senior Managing Director and Head of Global Distribution with responsibility for building the firm’s institutional client base across equity, fixed-income, and alternative asset portfolios. Prior to Third Avenue, he held partner positions at merchant bank Grail Partners and private equity firm DLB Capital.

Johnson attended the University of Virginia, where he received a BA in history and an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

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