Markit Launches iBoxx Short Index

London – Markit, the leading provider of independent data, portfolio valuations and OTC derivatives trade processing, today announced that it has launched the Markit iBoxx Short EUR Sovereign Eurozone Total Return Index.

The index, which reflects a short position in the Markit iBoxx EUR Sovereign Eurozone index, will serve as a benchmark for asset managers and institutional investors holding short positions in Eurozone government debt. It takes into account revenues from short sales of bonds in the index, as well as a current repo rate, and therefore goes beyond a simple inverse position.

David Mark, Director, Markit Indices, said: “We have launched a new short bond index in response to customer demand. The Markit iBoxx indices are increasingly the benchmark of choice for investment products throughout Europe, and we believe this new index further enhances the index universe.”

It will also be used as the index underlying a db x-trackers ETF which will be launched by Deutsche Bank in May.

Marco Montanari, Head of Fixed Income ETF Structuring at Deutsche Bank, said: "This new ETF, the first short bond ETF worldwide, confirms Deutsche Bank’s ability to innovate. We are reacting quickly to developing trends by bringing new products to market as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Markit calculates the index daily and publishes the values on www.indexco.com.

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For further information, please contact:

Teresa Chick
Managing Director, Corporate Communications
Markit
Email: teresa.chick@markit.com
Telephone: +44-(0)7747 468486

Caroline Lumley
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Markit
Email: caroline.lumley@markit.com
Telephone: +44-(0)7815 812162

About Markit
Markit is the leading provider of independent data, portfolio valuations and OTC derivatives trade processing to the global financial markets. The company receives daily data contributions from 90 dealing firms, and its services are used by almost 1,000 institutions to enhance trading operations, reduce risk and manage compliance. For more information, see www.markit.com