NEW YORK, April 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, today announced the introduction of the Dow Jones Total Stock Market Indexes, which will serve as its primary global benchmark family. The new index series is the successor to the Dow Jones Wilshire Index family.
The Dow Jones Total Stock Market Index family is identical in all aspects to the former Dow Jones Wilshire index family, including methodology, composition and historical data back to 1987. The Dow Jones Total Stock Market Indexes are available on the same data vendors and distribution platforms as used previously, which will help ensure a seamless transition for index users.
"The Dow Jones Total Stock Market index family is the foundation of our index offerings allowing us to provide the marketplace with a globally consistent, integrated and complete selection of equity indexes. The new index series is designed to serve as a benchmark for pensions and institutions and follows the same rigorous rules-based methodology and data quality standards that apply to all indexes bearing the Dow Jones name. Dow Jones offers three distinct, yet integrated equity index categories: global institutional benchmark indexes, broad-based investable indexes, and blue-chip indexes that track the largest and most liquid companies in a particular market. We believe our offerings maximize our ability to respond to market demands with greater flexibility and service," said Michael A. Petronella, president, Dow Jones Indexes.
The Dow Jones Wilshire Indexes are being discontinued as Dow Jones Indexes has elected to allow its business relationship with Wilshire Associates to expire on March 31, 2009.
The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index measures the performance of all U.S. equities with readily available prices. The Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index measures the performance of more than 12,000 companies in 65 countries. The Dow Jones Global Select Real Estate Indexes measure the performance of publicly traded real estate securities that represent the ownership and operation of commercial or residential real estate.
As of the close of trading of March 31, 2009, the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index measures 4,495 stocks with a float-adjusted market capitalization of US$ 8.5 trillion. Worldwide, the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index tracked 12,119 stocks with a float-adjusted market capitalization of US$19.5 trillion.
For more information on the Dow Jones Total Stock Market Index family, please visit the Dow Jones Indexes Web site at http://www.djindexes.com/totalstockmarket. For a complete list of new indexes within the Dow Jones Total Stock Market Index series and corresponding Dow Jones Wilshire Indexes, please contact one of the Dow Jones Indexes press offices at the phone numbers listed below.
Journalists may e-mail questions regarding this press release to PR-Indexes@dowjones.com.
Note to Editors:
About Dow Jones Indexes
A full-service index provider, Dow Jones Indexes develops, maintains and licenses indexes for use as benchmarks and as the basis of investment products. Best known for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Dow Jones Indexes also is co-owner of the Dow Jones STOXX indexes, the world's leading pan-European indexes, and together with Wilshire Associates, provides the Dow Jones Wilshire Global Index family, which is anchored by the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 and covers more than 12,000 securities in 65 markets. Beyond equity indexes, Dow Jones Indexes maintains a number of alternative indexes, including measures of the hedge fund and commodity markets. Dow Jones indexes are maintained according to clear, unbiased and systematic methodologies that are fully integrated within index families. www.djindexes.com
Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com) is a News Corporation company (Nasdaq:NWS) (Nasdaq:NWSA) (ASX:NWS) (ASX:NWSLV) (www.newscorp.com). Dow Jones is a leading provider of global business news and information services. Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group includes Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions, Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones owns 50% of SmartMoney and 33% of STOXX Ltd. and provides news content to radio stations in the U.S.
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