Products July 15, 2008

Wilshire Enhances User Interface with Analytics Data

Wilshire Analytics announced enhancements to the user interface for its integrated collection of tools to manage global equity portfolios for active strategies.
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With the Wilshire Atlas Version 11.0 (Atlas v11), all portfolios and indexes loaded in the Wilshire Atlas system now may be viewed and organized within a customizable folder structure, according to the release. This new Portfolio Navigator was designed to facilitate access to saved portfolios for both the running of new reports and the editing of portfolio holdings.

The holdings of each portfolio in the system can now be accessed via the Portfolio Navigator, which displays asset positions in a new portfolio holdings window for every date on which the portfolio has been loaded. The system also gives users access to the analysis tools and utilities of the Wilshire Atlas via a multi-tab toolbar or “ribbon,” which is available at all times in the user interface and groups each tool in the Wilshire Atlas by function type. The ribbon also offers users direct access to the tools within the Wilshire Atlas without first having to open a portfolio or create a portfolio list.

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Wilshire also has increased the multi-factor risk and attribution functionality of the system to allow users to perform flexible decomposition of risk and return contributions into any user-defined grouping scheme within the system. The risk and factor attribution modules also have been expanded through the addition of a number of new reporting features and an HTML reporting format.

In addition, the reporting capabilities of the Wilshire Atlas have been enhanced with the development of a Microsoft Excel plug-in associated with the Wilshire Atlas API (application programming interface), which gives users access to the core analysis functions of the system via custom cell functions from within a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, allowing them to build fully-customized reports without needing to code new Microsoft Excel macros.

More information is available at www.wilshire.com.

Products July 15, 2008

Dow Jones, Brookfield Indexes Gauge Infrastructure Assets

Dow Jones Indexes and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. launched an index to benchmark toll roads, pipelines, and ports.
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The Dow Jones Brookfield Infrastructure Indexes is a global index series designed to serve as benchmarks of companies that are owners and operators of key infrastructure assets.

According to a release, the Dow Jones Brookfield Infrastructure Indexes include benchmark indexes to gauge active infrastructure portfolios as well as blue-chip indexes that can underlie financial products. The new index series includes the Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index; Dow Jones Brookfield Global Composite Index, which includes master limited partnerships (MLPs); regional sub-indexes for the Americas, Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Global ex U.S.; eight global sector sub-indexes; and the Dow Jones Brookfield Infrastructure MLP Index, which tracks MLPs only.

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The indexes also can be customized to meet the needs of market participants interested in specific areas, such as electricity transmission or toll road companies, the release said.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Dow Jones Brookfield Infrastructure Indexes, a company must have a minimum float-adjusted market capitalization of $500 million as well as a minimum three-month average daily trading volume of $1 million. Securities also must be domiciled in a country with a liquid market listing.

More than 70% of cash flows must be derived from the development, ownership, lease, concession, or management of infrastructure assets in the following sectors: airports, toll roads, ports, communications, electricity transmission and distribution, oil and gas storage/ transportation, and water. Diversified companies that derive at least 70% of their cash flow from infrastructure assets as well as investment funds with a primary focus toward infrastructure investments are also eligible for the indexes.

As of July 11, the five-year performance of the Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index is 15.05%.

More information is available at http://www.djbrookfieldinfrastructure.com.

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