Dow Jones Indexes launches DIFC Arabia Tians 50 Index

Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, and the Dubai International Financial Centre - in collaboration with the Dubai based investment bank SHUAA Capital - today launched the Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 index, a regional blue-chip index that covers companies in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

Lars Hamich, managing director of STOXX Ltd., the joint venture that is responsible for Dow Jones Indexes business development in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, said: “For the first time, a single index covers the entire Arab region. Designed to underlie investment products such as funds, exchange-traded funds, structured products and derivatives, the Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 index provides a transparent index methodology consistent with the global Dow Jones index family. The index methodology mimics that of the already-established Dow Jones Titans family, which will help measure these growing markets.”

“Attracting global investors is a key objective of the DIFC and The Dubai International Financial Exchange,” said Naser Nabulsi, chief executive officer of DIFC. “The Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 will contribute greatly to the development of the region’s exchanges, such as the Dubai International Financial Exchange, by generating substantial interest from global investors.”

He continued: “I am delighted that DIFC has partnered with Dow Jones Indexes in establishing the first credible regionwide index. The DIFC will be the world’s next great Financial Centre, and partnering with Dow Jones Indexes in the creation of Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 confirms our position as the recognized centre for financial services in the Middle East.”

The investable index is based on the stock prices of 50 leading companies in the region. The weighting of each component is determined using 60% market capitalization, 20% net income and 20% revenue. The index has a return of 70.76% since Dec. 31, 2000. The base value of the Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 is 100 at Dec. 31, 2000.

The full list of components including weightings and values of the Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 is attached and available onwww.djindexes.com.

The Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 is part of the Dow Jones Titans series of indexes. The series comprises the Dow Jones Global Titans 50; Dow Jones Sector Titans 30, with 18 global sector indexes; Dow Jones Asian Titans 50; 14 Dow Jones Country Titans indexes (that cover Europe, Asia, and North America); Dow Jones Tiger Titans 50; and Dow Jones Islamic Titans 100.

Dow Jones Indexes 
Dow Jones Indexes is a premier global provider of investable indexes, including the Dow Jones Averages, the Dow Jones Global Titans 50, the Dow Jones Asian Titans 50, the Dow Jones Sector Titans, the Dow Jones Country Titans Indexes and is co-owner of the Pan-European Dow Jones STOXX Indexes. Dow Jones Indexes is part of Dow Jones & Company, which publishes the world's most vital business and financial news and information.

In addition to Dow Jones Indexes, Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; dowjones.com) publishes The Wall Street Journal and its international and online editions, Barron's and the Far Eastern Economic Review, Dow Jones Newswires and the Ottaway group of community newspapers. Dow Jones is co-owner with Reuters Group of Factiva, with Hearst of SmartMoney and with NBC Universal of the CNBC television operations in Asia and Europe. Dow Jones also provides news content to CNBC and radio stations in the U.S.

The DIFC 
The DIFC is being established to position Dubai as a universally recognised hub for institutional finance and as the regional gateway for capital and investment in the Middle East. A critical component of this is the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The Authority is an independent unitary regulatory authority responsible for the oversight of asset management, banking, securities trading, Islamic finance, re-insurance and a regional financial exchange. The DFSA is being created using principle-based primary legislation modelled closely on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime will operate to standards that meet or exceed those applying in the world's major financial centres.

The Dubai International Financial Exchange is the first international exchange to be launched in the 21 st century. Based on state of the art technology, this fully electronic marketplace will be capable of trading a wide range of securities, including: equities, bonds, funds (including index funds), Islamic compliant products, derivatives, commodities and alternative risk products.

Dow Jones DIFC Arabia Titans 50 Component List: