Global index provider Standard & Poor’s has launched the S&P Asia Thematic Index Series, comprising three new investible indices for Asian equity markets based on specialist invest
Global index provider Standard & Poor’s has launched the S&P Asia Thematic Index Series, comprising three new investible indices for Asian equity markets based on specialist investment themes.
The S&P Asia Infrastructure Index, S&P Asia Water Index and S&P Asia Alternative Energy Index will offer investors diversified exposure to publicly-listed companies operating within these sectors in seven developed and emerging Asian markets.
‘The S&P Asia Thematic Index Series will satisfy demand from Asian investors for a product developed by an independent provider that enables them to gain local exposure to specific investment themes,’ said Tim Eisenhauer, a vice-president at Standard & Poor’s Index Services.
‘Standard & Poor’s is already the premier provider of thematic indices through the S&P Global Thematic Index Series, and these new regional indices reinforce our ability to tap into evolving trends that cut across traditional industries and geographical regions. The indices have been designed to be highly liquid and investible, and can therefore be more easily developed into structured products and exchange-traded funds.’
The Asia Thematic Index Series contains the largest companies that meet size and liquidity criteria from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
The Asia Infrastructure Index comprises 30 stocks diversified across three infrastructure clusters, energy, transportation and utilities. The Asia Water Index contains 30 stocks that provide a balanced exposure to two water-related industry clusters, water utilities and infrastructure, and water equipment and materials. The Asia Alternative Energy Index consists of 20 companies involved in the production of energy from alternative, non-fossil-based sources.
Each index relies on a selection and modified market capitalisation-weighting scheme to provide balanced representation across the clusters within each index. Companies must have a total market capitalisation exceeding USD250m and a three-month average daily value traded of at least USD3m. No single stock can account for more than 10 per cent of the index and each stock’s domicile and primary market listing must be an Asian market.
Earlier this month Standard & Poor’s announced the launch of the S&P Asia Property 40 index, which provides exposure to 40 leading publicly-listed companies in the Asian property and real estate markets.
Standard & Poor’s Index Services maintains a wide variety of investible and benchmark indices including the S&P 500, an index with USD1.5trn invested and USD4.85trn benchmarked, and the S&P Global 1200, a composite index made up of seven regional and country headline indices.
