News & Research

The STOXX Global 1800 Index falls 4% in month when measured in dollars and including dividends. The US Federal Reserve indicates it may raise interest rates as early as next year amid signs that a spike in inflation could last longer than previously thought. US and European stocks drop in the month, led by Momentum, basic-resources and high-dividend shares.

A Qontigo analysis shows that the DAX enlargement contributed to the German benchmark’s diversification, decrease in concentration, stability and market representation, and resulted in relatively limited changes to style exposures. In most cases, those changes were not of significant nature.

The results of the STOXX Global ESG Leaders Index’s annual review are out. Qontigo’s broadest benchmark tracking the highest ESG-scoring companies now comprises 410 constituents: 270 from Europe, 79 from North America and 61 from Asia/Pacific.

As the DAX indices complete the biggest reform in their three-decade history, we talk to Stephan Flaegel, Chief Product Officer, Indices and Benchmarks, at Qontigo, to hear what the new rules mean for the flagship DAX and how quality, simplicity and alignment with international standards were key drivers in the overhaul.

With DAX increasing its composition from 30 stocks to 40, we review the changes to the DAX® ESG Target Index, a sustainable version of the flagship German benchmark.

With the flagship German benchmark increasing its constituency from 30 stocks to 40, we look at the effects of the overhaul from the perspective of average constituent size and equity turnover.

The STOXX® Global 1800 Index gains 2.5% in dollars in August, lifting this year’s advance to 17.5%, amid economic optimism and expectations that interest rates will remain low. The VSTOXX® index, the gauge of European equity volatility, remains higher than it was before COVID-19 hit financial markets in the first quarter of 2020.

The STOXX® Global 1800 Index gains 1.6% in dollars in July as investors’ optimism about economic and earnings growth outweighs concerns that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus may slow down the recovery. Asian stocks fall as China tightens regulation over some industries.

Changes to the ESG index follow a market consultation and were undertaken to keep the methodology and index aligned with evolving sustainability practices and new guidelines from regulators. A Qontigo analysis shows the new rules didn’t significantly affect the country or industry allocation of the resulting portfolio.

An annual study by IHS Markit and the German Investor Relations Association reveals a diverse and global structure in DAX shares ownership. In a volatile 2020, US- and UK-based institutional investors increased their presence in the German benchmark’s stock universe, while domestic investors continued to pull out.

The STOXX® Global 1800 Index gains 1.5% in dollars in June and jumps 4.6% in euros following a rally in the greenback. Investors turn to Momentum stocks during the month but snub high-dividend shares. Equity volatility continues its march lower.

The latest Qontigo whitepaper analyzes the risk, return and impact profile of three ESG indices tracking the STOXX® USA 500 benchmark: the STOXX® USA 500 ESG Broad Market, STOXX® USA 500 ESG Target and STOXX® USA 500 ESG Target TE. The study reveals that while performance and risk across the three ESG variants are similar to those of the parent benchmark, differences exist in the active risk and constitution of the portfolios.