What is a Financial Index?
Videos What is a Financial Index? November 13, 2023 If you follow markets, you’ve heard about indexes. But do you know exactly what an index does and why you can’t invest in one itself? This video provides an overview of the financial index and describes the critical products and services indexes provide to global investors….
Read MoreHow Asset Managers Are Evolving on ESG: A Conversation with Rick Redding and Mark Purdy
How Asset Managers Are Evolving on ESG: A Conversation with Rick Redding and Mark Purdy September 22, 2023 IIA CEO Rick Redding speaks with one of the author’s of the 2023 IIA ESG Survey, Mark Purdy, managing director of Purdy Associates. In this conversation, they discuss some of the surprising findings this year. They also…
Read MoreVoices of the IIA – Tom Kuh, Morningstar Indexes Head of ESG Strategy
Voices of the IIA – Tom Kuh, Morningstar Indexes Head of ESG Strategy September 20, 2023 Tom Kuh, Morningstar Indexes Head of ESG Strategy The IIA sat down with Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy for Morningstar Indexes, to talk about his role at Morningstar, perspectives gathered from his more than 30 years in ESG…
Read MoreIndex Industry Association’s Third Annual Global ESG Asset Manager Survey
Index Industry Association’s Third Annual Global ESG Asset Manager Survey Despite recent global economic uncertainty and geopolitical turbulence, asset managers reported strong growth in ESG investment over the past year across asset classes and believe it will continue well into the future. The report explores: The state of ESG investment among asset managers today and…
Read MoreIIA Response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the Review of the Scope and Third-Country Regime of the EU Benchmark Regulation
The Index Industry Association (IIA) has submitted a response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the review of the scope and third-country regime of the EU Benchmark Regulation. In the response, the IIA reaffirmed its position that all benchmarks do not present the same levels of systemic risk, and that the Benchmark Regulation’s…
Read MoreWomen’s History Month Panel Reflects on Index Industry Embracing Diversity
The IIA recently gathered leaders from global index providers to discuss progress the financial industry has made in creating and fostering opportunities for women. In the Voices of the Index Industry webinar, moderator Deborah Fuhr, ETFGI’s managing partner & founder and co-founder of Women in ETFs, acknowledged the industry’s diversity while hearing each panelist’s unique…
Read MoreVoices of the IIA – Lauren Young, Cboe Global Markets
The IIA sat down with Cboe Senior Director of Index Governance Lauren Young to talk about, among other topics, her role at Cboe, what she’s most excited about and how she defines leadership. Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at Cboe? One thing I greatly enjoy about my role within Cboe Global…
Read MoreVoices of the IIA – Molly McGregor, Qontigo
As head of global marketing and communications for Qontigo, Molly is responsible for global brand and market positioning, product marketing and go-to-market campaigns, corporate communications, media and advertising, global conferences and events. She recently offered her perspective on what is most challenging and rewarding about her role, inclusive leadership and engaging clients in a post-pandemic…
Read MoreVoices of the IIA – Amelia Furr, Morningstar Indexes
The IIA sat down with Amelia Furr, Global Head of Sales for Morningstar Indexes, to talk about her role at Morningstar, her thoughts on inclusive leadership and the role of women in the index industry, what she is most excited about for the index industry and how she defines leadership. Q: What is the most…
Read MoreESG Fixed-Income Exposure: Index Providers Respond to Asset Manager Demand
By Rick Redding, CFA Originally published November 30, 2022 in the CFA Institute’s “Enterprising Investor” What does the latest Index Industry Association (IIA) global membership survey reveal about current trends in indexes and benchmarks? Chief among the key data points is that the rapid expansion of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indexes continues to gain momentum and diversify…
Read MoreESG Criteria: Global Asset Managers Expand Their Embrace
By Rick Redding, CFA Originally published September 7, 2022 in the CFA Institute’s “Enterprising Investor” The number of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) benchmarks and indexes demanded by the asset management community has grown at an unprecedented rate over the past two years. That’s according to our latest survey of Index Industry Association (IIA) members. Unpacking these…
Read MoreInsights from the IIA’s Second Annual Global ESG Asset Manager Survey
The IIA released our Second Annual Global ESG Survey of Asset Managers. This year’s survey examined the evolving role of ESG investment in the asset management industry and the growth it experienced in the face of geopolitical instability, a 40 year high in inflation and six months of market volatility. We once again, partnered with…
Read MoreIIA Member Firms Reflect on the Impact of the IIA (Part 2)
Since its founding, the IIA has represented the global index industry in regulatory matters. We work closely with market participants, regulators, and other representative bodies to promote sound practices in the industry that strengthen markets and serve the needs of investors. As the Index Industry Association celebrates the 10th Anniversary of our founding, we took…
Read MoreIIA Response to SEC Comment Request re: Information Providers Acting as Investment Advisors
The Index Industry Association (IIA) submitted a response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (Commission) request for comment on “Certain Information Providers Acting as Investment Advisers” (Comment Request). In the response, the IIA noted that it does not agree with the Commission’s suggestion to regulate index providers as investment advisers under the Advisers Act…
Read MoreThe Present State of The Index Industry and Opportunities for Growth
IIA Comments on Third-Country Regime under BMR
Last week, the IIA responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the functioning of the third-country regime under the Benchmark Regulation (BMR). The consultation is meant to seek views on whether the current provision of third-country benchmarks to EU end-users is functioning properly, and to collect data to demonstrate whether the current framework should be amended….
Read MoreIIA Member Firms Highlight the Industry’s Continued Innovation
The index industry has a long track record of evolving and expanding, with the goal of providing ever-increasing options for the public to track performance of various asset classes. As the Index Industry Association celebrates the 10th Anniversary of our founding, we asked our member firms about the present state of the index industry and…
Read MoreIIA Member Firms Reflect on the Impact of the IIA (Part 1)
As the Index Industry Association celebrates the 10th Anniversary of our founding, we took the opportunity to ask our member firms about the impact the IIA has had on the industry and key stakeholders. In the post below, our member firms to share their thoughts on the role of the IIA, and the initiatives they…
Read MoreIIA Member Firms Highlight the Growth and Innovation of the Index Industry
The index industry has a long track record of evolving and expanding, with the goal of providing ever-increasing options for the public to track performance of various asset classes, investment styles, and strategies. As the Index Industry Association celebrates the 10th Anniversary of our founding, we asked our member firms what they believe to be…
Read MoreHighlights of Index History Timeline
For more than 125 years, IIA members have been administering indices and providing benchmarks. During that time the industry has grown from measuring a few markets to where we stand today – meeting investor demand for benchmarks globally. As the index industry has continued to grow and evolve, it has remained focused on its core…
Read MoreIIA Member Firms Highlight the Rise of ESG Indexes
The index industry has a long track record of continuing to evolve and innovate, with the goal of providing ever-increasing options for the public. When we asked our member firms about the present state of the industry and the biggest opportunities on the horizon, we noticed that one theme that continuously popped up – ESG….
Read MoreEU Regulations
The Benchmarks Regulation introduces a regime for benchmark administrators that ensures the accuracy and integrity of benchmarks. ESMA developed draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) and implementing technical standards (ITS) on a large number of areas, and also provided the Commission with Technical Advice. ESMA coordinates the supervision of benchmark administrators by national competent authorities. For…
Read MoreIOSCO Principles
The IOSCO (International Organization of Securities Commissioners) Task Force on Financial Market Benchmarks Consultation Report is an important milestone in the global response to recent investigations and enforcement actions against attempted manipulation of certain benchmarks. IIA shares the Task Force’s commitment to the development of benchmarks with high levels of transparency and integrity. Click to…
Read MoreSEC Comment on Tailored Reports
The Index Industry Association (IIA), an independent, not-for-profit organization composed of leading global independent index administrators, has commented on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed rule regarding Tailored Shareholder Reports. In the response, the full text of which can be found here, the IIA supports the SEC Proposed Rule which requires funds to disclose…
Read MoreIndexes 101
What is an index? • A financial index measures the performance of a list of instruments (bonds, stocks, etc.) that are selected and weighted according to an employed methodology that describes a set of rules governing the construction of the index. • IIA defines an index “as a number calculated by reference to a theoretical…
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