Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, and UBS Investment Bank today announced the daily currency hedged versions of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index.
Designed as benchmarks for non-U.S. dollar investors, these versions are calculated to reflect the hedging of foreign exchange risk on a daily basis. The indexes aim to provide an easily replicable basis for the creation of financial products, such as exchange-traded funds, for which it is important to enter into or terminate hedging transactions at that day's settlement value of the reference index.
The new indexes are available in excess return versions, which reflect the return of underlying commodity futures price movements and movements in foreign exchange rates only. Total return versions are also available, reflecting additional assumed return on cash collateral held in the relevant non-USD currency.
Dow Jones Indexes and UBS will publish the daily currency hedged versions together with the monthly hedged currency versions, the first of which launched in October 2008.
The following daily hedged indexes are currently available:
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Australian Dollar Hedged Daily;
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Canadian Dollar Hedged Daily;
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Swiss Franc Hedged Daily;
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Euro Hedged Daily;
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Pound Sterling Hedged Daily; and
- Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Yen Hedged Daily
“The new daily currency hedged versions of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Indexes will help meet a growing demand for non-U.S. dollar denominated investment tools in the commodity markets,” commented Jon Fraade, Managing Director in the UBS Commodities group.
Michael A. Petronella, President, Dow Jones Indexes, added: “We believe these benchmarks will satisfy investors who wish to measure commodity markets while removing the additional risk of currency fluctuations from their portfolios.”
As of March 25, 2011, assets totaling $76.9 billion tracked Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Indexes.
Further information on the daily currency hedged versions of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index can be found at http://www.djindexes.com/commodity.