Products June 21, 2007

State Street Offers BRIC ETF

June 21, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - State Street Global Advisors has announced the launch of the SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF (exchange-traded fund), giving investors access to companies in Brazil, Russia, India and China.
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According to the announcement, the new fund seeks to track the S&P BRIC 40 index – the dominant BRIC benchmark for institutional mandates – and includes 40 leading companies, representing the largest and most liquid securities in Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  All index holdings trade in developed market exchanges (Hong Kong Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and NYSE).

The SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF will have an annual expense ratio of .40%, the announcement said. The fund will begin trading on the American Stock Exchange on June 22.

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“The launch of SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF reflects the significant interest that we are seeing from financial advisers and institutional investors in this particular segment of emerging markets,” said James Ross, senior managing director of State Street Global Advisors, in the announcement.

More information is at  www.ssga.com .

Products June 20, 2007

IW Financial Offers Solution for Compliance with Divestment Laws

June 20, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - IW Financial Inc. (IWF) has announced it offers a solution that will enable institutional investors, asset managers, and plan sponsors to satisfy the divestment requirements of all pending or future legislation on Sudan, or Iran and other U.S.-designated sponsors of terrorism.
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According to the announcement, with its partner Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), a research firm dedicated exclusively to identifying and assessing companies that have business in, or with, State Department-designated terrorist-sponsoring states, IW Financial provides research-based technology solutions that enable investment professionals to analyze portfolio holdings using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.

Sam Pierce, chief executive officer at IW Financial, said in the announcement, “[I]t is clear that states require a solution that can satisfy all potential terrorism-related requirements.  IWF is now in a position to offer that solution.” Roger W. Robinson, Jr., President and CEO of CSAG, said the firms’ solutions can address a number of specific policy guidelines for divestment.

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The new solutions are immediately available, and more information can be found at www.iwfinancial.com or www.conflictsecurities.com .

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