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Read the stories which MSCI has featured recently, covering topics relating through to indexes, portfolio analytics, real estate and ESG.

Market Classification 2017

Market Classification 2017

MSCI Inc. has announced that beginning in June 2018, it will include China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

MSCI Analytics wins Chartis and Risk Magazine top awards

MSCI Analytics wins Chartis and Risk Magazine top awards

MSCI has ticked up two places, to third overall, in the latest annual ranking by Chartis of the top 100 risk technology providers in the world.

KNEIP and MSCI will partner on PRIIPS KID Production for EU Clients

KNEIP and MSCI will partner on PRIIPS KID Production for EU Clients

Aug 25, 2016: MSCI and KNEIP Communication S.A., based in Luxembourg, are teaming up to help clients meet their obligations under new regulations that become effective next year for Packaged Retail Investment and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) produced or sold in the EU.

MSCI Launches Global Data Standards for Real Estate Investment

MSCI Launches Global Data Standards for Real Estate Investment

July 13, 2016: As institutional investors continue to explore real estate as an alternative to stocks and bonds, they look abroad for opportunity sets beyond their home markets. 

The fallout from Brexit is matching MSCI’s scenarios

The fallout from Brexit is matching MSCI’s scenarios

June 29, 2016: The U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union is reverberating across financial markets roughly in ways that MSCI anticipated it might.

2016 Market Classification Announcement

2016 Market Classification Announcement

June 14, 2016: Over recent months, Chinese authorities have introduced significant improvements in the accessibility of the China A shares market for global investors. 

MSCI Boosts Flexibility with Analytics Enhancements

MSCI Boosts Flexibility with Analytics Enhancements

June 9, 2016: Asset managers have been using MSCI risk models for years—the vendor has been in this game for four decades—and according to the most recent P&I rankings, 97 of the top 100 largest money managers are MSCI clients.

Understanding Systematic Equity Strategy Factors

Understanding Systematic Equity Strategy Factors

June 1, 2016: A recent paper published by MSCI shows that Systematic Equity Strategy (SES) factors earned positive returns over a 20-year period.

MSCI clients weigh in on Brexit

MSCI clients weigh in on Brexit

May 24, 2016: Institutional investors in the U.K. and Europe fear fallout from Brexit but only a minority are preparing for one, a survey of financial managers and institutions by MSCI shows.

A Sharper Focus on U.K. Stocks: Barra UK Total Market Equity Model

A Sharper Focus on U.K. Stocks: Barra UK Total Market Equity Model

May 18, 2016: For more than 30 years, institutional investors have relied on Barra models to help better manage portfolios and understand market risks.

MSCI wins 10 awards in the last 4 months

MSCI wins 10 awards in the last 4 months

May 17, 2016: In April 2016, MSCI won two awards at the ETF.com European Awards dinner, which celebrates achievements within the Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) space. 

Measuring and Managing Risk of Private Assets in Global Portfolios

Measuring and Managing Risk of Private Assets in Global Portfolios

April 28, 2016: Private assets, including private equity and commercial real estate, constitute major components of the portfolios of many institutional investors, but risk management for these asset classes has not kept pace.

MSCI Named “Best Sell-Side Market Risk Product” for 2016

MSCI Named “Best Sell-Side Market Risk Product” for 2016

April 22, 2016: MSCI has earned top honors among providers of market risk technology for its ability to help banks and other institutional investors make better-informed decisions about their trades.

The MSCI Macroeconomic Risk Model and scenario analysis service

The MSCI Macroeconomic Risk Model and scenario analysis service

April 16, 2016: From the risks of a hard landing in China to the future course of U.S. interest rates, today’s institutional investors face persistent global macroeconomic uncertainties.

Time to model a Fed rate hike

Time to model a Fed rate hike

Mar 3, 2016: How much has changed in the past 90 days? That’s the question that confronts officials at the Federal Reserve and institutional investors everywhere ahead of March 15, when the U.S. central bank will decide whether to raise short-term interest rates for the first time since December.

How minimum volatility has performed amid the turbulence

How minimum volatility has performed amid the turbulence

Feb 26, 2016: The popularity of low-volatility strategies during the latest period of market turbulence has not diminished their effectiveness.

Introducing MSCI ESG Fund Metrics

Introducing MSCI ESG Fund Metrics

Feb 8, 2016: There is growing demand among wealth and asset managers for greater investment transparency driven by a desire to reflect their investment views and values better.

 

Constructing Low Volatility Strategies

Constructing Low Volatility Strategies

Jan 25, 2016: Since the 2008 financial crisis, institutional investors have sought new methods of managing risk and increasing returns while maintaining exposure to equities. That may explain why the MSCI Minimum Volatility Indexes, which historically outperformed in defensive markets, are now the most popular MSCI factor indexes.

How High-Dividend Stocks Fared When the Fed Tightened

How High-Dividend Stocks Fared When the Fed Tightened

Jan 15, 2016: When the Federal Reserve hiked short-term interest rates on December 16, 2015, it announced that it may make further “gradual increases” when economic conditions permit. Does that mean high-dividend stocks will lose their appeal when higher rates finally arrive?

How Wide Is Your Market View? Introducing the MSCI Global Equity Content Set

How Wide Is Your Market View? Introducing the MSCI Global Equity Content Set

Jan 13, 2016: After China’s stock market jolted equity portfolios around the world in the first days of 2016, it became clear that links among markets are deeper and more complex than ever.  MSCI’s new Global Equity Content Set offers investment professionals a more robust view of risk and return across national borders. 

What are the five ESG trends to watch in 2016?

What are the five ESG trends to watch in 2016?

Jan 11, 2016: In our annual report, we highlight the key environmental, social and governance (ESG) trends that are top of mind for investors going into the New Year. In 2016, these trends reflect a softening economy, a long-term shift to a low carbon economy, a generational changeover and institutional forces.

Stress Testing for a Fed Rate Hike with Three Scenarios

Stress Testing for a Fed Rate Hike with Three Scenarios

Dec 14, 2015: In a November poll of academic and business economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, 92% said they expected the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December, the first such hike in more than nine years.

MSCI Study Sees Global Benefits in Strong Corporate Governance

MSCI Study Sees Global Benefits in Strong Corporate Governance

Dec 7, 2015: Institutional investors have often criticized corporate boards, but some directors themselves have concerns about the boards on which they serve.

Volkswagen Scandal Underlines Need for ESG Analysis

Volkswagen Scandal Underlines Need for ESG Analysis

Oct 26, 2015: In September, German car manufacturer Volkswagen came under fire after admitting defective devices were installed on 11 million vehicles to cheat on emissions tests, leading to CEO Martin Winterkom’s resignation. 

The MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes

The MSCI Saudi Arabia Indexes

Sept 24, 2015: On June 1, 2015 Saudi Arabia opened its $500+ billion stock market to direct foreign investors through a Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) scheme, providing international investors with direct access to the Middle East’s biggest economy.

Playing Defense: Using the MSCI Quality Factor

Playing Defense: Using the MSCI Quality Factor

Sept 21, 2015: From Shanghai to New York, stocks have been rocked by recent volatility, and “flight to quality” has become an investor catchphrase in global markets.

The Future of Real Estate Investment Analytics

The Future of Real Estate Investment Analytics

Sept 8, 2015: MSCI is transforming the way asset owners and asset managers use analytics for private real estate investments.

Finding a New Path to Value Exposure

Finding a New Path to Value Exposure

Sept 7, 2015: First described nearly 80 years ago, value investing has continually evolved. Investors have used various approaches to identify their exposure to the value factor in the equity markets.

DEMYSTIFYING THE MARKET STORM: A FACTOR PERSPECTIVE

DEMYSTIFYING THE MARKET STORM: A FACTOR PERSPECTIVE

Aug 26, 2015: Many market observers could see signs of a coming storm long before stock prices started to slide. Among these indicators were outflows from the large pool of global capital that has flooded emerging markets over the past few years, continued low global interest rates, rising Chinese debt levels and relaxed margin limits....

How to spot Crowded Trades

How to spot Crowded Trades

Aug 25, 2015: The “quant meltdown” of August 2007 and the subsequent unfolding of the global financial crisis highlighted the risks of crowded investment strategies.  The rapid growth of smart beta indexes and their use in ETFs has added to the need for scrutiny.

All Eyes on Greece

All Eyes on Greece

Aug 4, 2015: The Greek government continues new bailout talks with its EU partners and the International Monetary Fund, and many involved in the negotiations are hopeful a new agreement can be reached quickly.

MSCI BARRA® U.S. TOTAL MARKET EQUITY MODEL SUITE

MSCI BARRA® U.S. TOTAL MARKET EQUITY MODEL SUITE

June 15, 2015: Based on the latest research methodologies, the models in the Barra U.S. Total Market Equity Model suite are designed to provide insight across the investment process, ranging from portfolio construction and risk monitoring to trading.

The next generation of ESG ratings

The next generation of ESG ratings

May 28, 2015: Institutional investors are becoming ever more aware of the potential risks and opportunities associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

MAXIMIZING FACTOR EXPOSURE WHILE CONTROLLING VOLATILITY

MAXIMIZING FACTOR EXPOSURE WHILE CONTROLLING VOLATILITY

May 27, 2015: Multi-factor indexes are important tools for investors seeking diversified exposure to factors that have historically outperformed the market over long periods. However investors may want to maximize their exposure to the underlying factors while still maintaining a market-like risk profile.

INTRODUCING THE NEW MSCI REAL ESTATE INDEX MODULE

INTRODUCING THE NEW MSCI REAL ESTATE INDEX MODULE

May 21, 2015: In response to the needs of global real estate investors, we have launched the MSCI Real Estate Index Module: a broad suite of over 180 real estate indexes, designed to represent the performance of global real estate investment opportunities.

China A-shares: MSCI’s Announcement

China A-shares: MSCI’s Announcement

May 10, 2015: MSCI conducts an annual review of all countries we include in our indexes. This review helps to ensure that our indexes remain relevant and accurate investment tools for our clients, and that they continue to accurately reflect the equity markets that they are measuring.

Replacing VAR?

Replacing VAR?

April 20, 2015: MSCI has developed a methodology to back-test Expected Shortfall, a risk measure that has been proposed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision as an alternative to Value at Risk (VAR).  Expected Shortfall is defined as an average of losses in excess of a given VAR level.

Providing transparency and standards to the global real estate industry

Providing transparency and standards to the global real estate industry

April 20, 2015: Real estate is an important asset class – and one that is quickly evolving.  Pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds have long held real estate in their multi-asset class portfolios, primarily as a source of diversification.

Interview with Baer Pettit

Interview with Baer Pettit

April 20, 2015: Equity factor investing was pioneered in the 1970s based on research, data and analytics created by Barra – today an MSCI company.

Beyond Divestment: Using Low Carbon Indexes

Beyond Divestment: Using Low Carbon Indexes

April 20, 2015: As the global economy copes with the unpredictable challenges of climate change, institutional investors are exploring the potential impact of these changes on financial assets.