DOW JONES WILSHIRE GLOBAL INDEX FAMILY EXPANDS TO INCLUDE THREE NEW COUNTRIES
Bahrain, Kuwait and Sri Lanka to be added at regular quarterly review
NEW YORK, January 16, 2008 — 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 21,
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.
About the Dow Jones Wilshire Index Family
The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000SM is the primary domestic component of the Dow Jones
Wilshire Global Total Market Index and a cornerstone of the Dow Jones Wilshire
Global Index Family. The development of the global family of indexes in 2006
marked a new phase of the Dow Jones Wilshire relationship. The affiliation began in
2004 when Dow Jones Indexes and Wilshire co-branded and marketed the Dow
Jones Wilshire family of indexes. By extending the Dow Jones Wilshire methodology
used in the U.S. internationally, the global indexes provide unprecedented breadth,
consistent global coverage, and objective and transparent rules.
Dow Jones Wilshire indexes are available on market-data vendor platforms- many in real-time format-and on the Dow Jones Indexes (www.djindexes.com) and Wilshire Associates (www.wilshire.com) Web sites. The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite IndexSM is calculated and distributed by Dow Jones Indexes pursuant to an agreement between Dow Jones & Company and Wilshire Associates Incorporated. "Dow Jones" and "Wilshire" are the respective service marks of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Wilshire Associates Incorporated. The Dow Jones Wilshire Global Total Market Index, the
broadest measure of global equities, was launched in October 2006.
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