First, Dow Jones Indexes announced component changes in the Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 Indexes and its three subindexes as a result of the annual review of the Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 Index. The Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 comprises the Dow Jones Islamic Market U.S. Titans 50, the Dow Jones Islamic Market Europe Titans 25 and the Dow Jones Islamic Market Asia/Pacific Titans 25.
Effective June 20, 12 companies will be deleted from the Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 and replaced with an equal number. Among the subindexes, five will be replaced in the Dow Jones Islamic Market Asia/Pacific Titans 25; three in the Dow Jones Islamic Market Europe Titans 25, and four in the Dow Jones Islamic Market U.S. Titans 50.
Second, Dow Jones Indexes has revised one of the three financial screens that are used in selecting companies’ stocks for the Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes. The change addresses accounts receivable or the illiquid assets of compliant company. The new screen is to eliminate companies whose accounts receivables divided by trailing 12-month average market capitalization is 33% or more. The previous screen limited accounts receivables to 45% of total assets.
The new financial screen also will be effective at the start of trading on June 20, 2005.
Shaykh Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo, United States, said: “With the release of the revisions to the screening criteria, the Shari`ah Board of the Dow Jones Islamic Indexes continues its mission to add value for Islamic investors the world over. Refining the metrics and processes underlying the various Islamic Market Indexes is key to maintaining the position of market leadership that Dow Jones Indexes has established, and the latest refinements reflect the commitment of the Islamic Market Indexes to the Islamic financial industry.”
Shaykh Dr. Mohamed A. Elgari, Saudi Arabia, said: “This is a milestone for the Islamic Equity Investment. I congratulate everyone especially Dr. Siddiqui. I am sure this is not the end of a relentless effort of innovation. We will continue to show that Shari'ah is capable of becoming not only at par with the most sophisticated legal systems but superior.”
Shaykh Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar said: "Screening criteria is of the most critical considerations for Shari'ah compliance purposes. Now, with this new refined screening relating to account receivables to market capitalization, it proves again that Shari'ah principles are always dynamic and progressive in an area which is changeable in character."
Component changes made during the review are also applied to all Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes screenings to ensure compliance with Shari’ah principles. To determine their eligibility for the Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100, stocks are screened based on their industry type and their financial ratios. Excluded are companies engaged in the following lines of business: alcohol, tobacco, pork-related products, financial services, defense/weapons and entertainment. Dow Jones Indexes then screens out companies with unacceptable financial ratios: companies whose total debt divided by trailing 12-month average market capitalization is 33% or more; those whose cash plus interest-bearing securities divided by trailing 12-month average market capitalization is 33% or more and those whose accounts receivables divided by market capitalization is 33% or more.
The Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes were created for people who wish to invest according to Islamic investment guidelines. The indexes track Shari`ah compliant stocks from around the world, providing Islamic investors with comprehensive tools based on a truly global investing perspective. Further information on the Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes can be found on www.djindexes.com
Click here to download Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 annual review results.
Disclaimer: Company additions and deletions do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.
