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February 2008
Release Notes |
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Morningstar
Events |
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Morningstar
News |
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Release Notes
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Licensed Data Release Schedule: Data Feeds and Morningstar� Essentials |
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Licensed Data Release Schedule |
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Variable Annuity Underlying Fund Morningstar Rating Change |
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Morningstar has changed our ratings for variable annuity underlying funds to compare with open-end mutual funds, effective Jan. 31, 2008. In order to support this enhancement, the following changes have occurred: Open-end funds that can be used in variable annuity subaccounts are now designated "available to insurance products" and any duplicate funds in the VA universe have been removed. These designated funds are included in both the U.S. VA and U.S. open-end universes. Category averages for both U.S. VA underlying and U.S. open-end now include these funds.
Please contact your account team for details.
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Morningstar Direct 3.3 Release Now Available |
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Morningstar Direct 3.3 has been released to Morningstar Direct 3.1 users. Users with administrative download rights have received the download link via email. Please follow your organization’s protocol for executing downloads, and check with your IT department for administrative rights if necessary. If you do not have the right to update the application, please work with your IT resources to accommodate an alternate release date of Feb. 19, 2008. The newest release includes improved aggregate functionality, new alerts capability, enhancements to Report Builder, new charts, increased data coverage, and enhanced coverage of shorts and derivatives in portfolio statistics.
View enhancement details
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Variable Annuity Rider Description Enhancements |
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We are restructuring our variable annuity rider description data to employ the use of “tags” to separate the description into a series of categories and sub-categories. Currently, rider descriptions are only available in paragraph format. This categorization will allow our clients to more easily search for and compare the features of death and living benefit riders in different policies. This enhancement will be available to Morningstar Annuity Research Center clients on March 13, 2008 and Licensed Data Clients in April deliveries.
Please contact your account team for details.
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NASDAQ Stock Symbol System Changes |
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Morningstar's products currently support the upcoming NASDAQ stock symbol change planned for April 7, 2008. Any changes to NASDAQ stock symbols will be passed through to Morningstar clients. Please ensure that your systems can accommodate the pending changes.
NASDAQ will implement Phase 2 of the Stock Symbol System Changes including the adoption of a common suffix symbology for all issues trading on NASDAQ's system. For subordinate issue types, NASDAQ currently appends a fifth character to NASDAQ-listed issues. NASDAQ must adopt a new suffix symbology to assist customers in separating the root symbol from the subordinate issue modifier type.
Details from NASDAQ can be seen here.
Please contact your account team for additional details.
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Investor Returns Enhancement to Accommodate Mergers |
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Effective March 31, 2008, Morningstar will be modifying our methodology for Investor Returns in order to accommodate fund mergers.
Additional details will follow.
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Morningstar Events
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Encorr User Forum |
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Feb. 20-21, 2008 Zurich, Switzerland
We are delighted to announce the inaugural Morningstar EnCorr User Forum being hosted this February at the Hotel Glockenhof. During the event you’ll have a chance to meet Morningstar Europe product experts, receive hands on training, and network with your peers. The User Forum has been designed to provide you with insight into advanced asset allocation methodologies and implementation, and how these can be applied to support your portfolio management needs. The event will feature key note speaker Tom Idzorek, Director of Research and Development at Ibbotson Associates, a Morningstar company.
Event Details
Forum Agenda
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15th Annual Mutual Fund Industry Awards Dinner |
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March 6, 2008 New York, NY
Morningstar is sponsoring two tables at this year's Mutual Fund Industry Awards Dinner being held at The Pierre in New York City. Don Phillips, Managing Director, will be in attendance.
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Ibbotson Associates Asset Allocation Conference |
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March 13-14, 2008 Orlando, Florida
Each year, professionals across the financial services community gather to discuss the latest asset allocation investment strategies and research. The annual Ibbotson� Asset Allocation Conference unites prominent speakers from academic institutions, global companies, and financial service providers to present timely topics. This is a must-attend event for those interested in asset allocation theory and practice, global financial industry trends, new diversification opportunities, and the market environment.
Event Details
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Morningstar Institutional Software Client Symposium |
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March 12, 2008 Orlando, Florida
Mark your calendars! This client-only event is designed to provide Morningstar Institutional Software subscribers a unique opportunity to learn how to increase productivity when using Morningstar research and analysis and about upcoming software developments. This event, held in conjunction with the Ibbotson Asset Allocation Conference, provides introductory to advanced level workshops for Morningstar DirectSM, Morningstar DirectSM Alternative Investment Edition, and Morningstar� EnCorr� to help you apply the newest techniques in asset allocation, portfolio construction, and portfolio monitoring. Exchange ideas for using Morningstar traditional and alternative research products, get answers to your questions and provide feedback on our products. Plus, hear and discuss important research and industry trends with Morningstar and Ibbotson thought leaders.
For more information, contact Quan Domaleczny at (312) 696-6848 or quan.domaleczny@morningstar.com
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Morningstar at Industry Shows |
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Morningstar will exhibit at the following conferences. We hope to see you.
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American Society for Professional Pension Actuaries (ASPPA) 401(k) Sales Summit Feb. 10-12 Orlando, FL |
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Fourth Annual Conference on Managing Retirement Income Feb. 11-13 Miami, FL |
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National Investment Company Service Association (NICSA) 26th Annual Conference and Expo Feb. 17-20 Miami, FL |
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National Association of Variable Annuities (NAVA) Marketing Conference Feb. 24-27 LaQuinta, CA |
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16th Annual Defined Contribution East Coast Conference March 2-4 Palm Beach Gardens, FL |
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Morningstar News
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Tim Armour, Managing Director, to Retire |
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Jan. 28, 2008—Morningstar announced that Timothy Armour, 59, is retiring from Morningstar on Feb. 29. Armour, who joined Morningstar in 1998, serves as a managing director, responsible for strategic account relationships and business development.
Press Release |
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Fourth-Quarter, Full-Year 2007 Hedge Fund Performance |
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Jan. 18, 2008—Morningstar reported a summary of hedge fund performance for the fourth quarter of 2007. Hedge funds in Morningstar’s database, excluding funds-of-funds, returned an average of 1.98% during the fourth quarter of 2007, outperforming the SandP 500 Index and the MSCI World Index in U.S. dollars.
Press Release |
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2007 Fund Manager of the Year Awards |
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Jan. 3, 2008—Although the second half of 2007 was marked by turbulence in the financial markets, Morningstar named three Mutual Fund Managers of the Year who were able to continue their records of strong long- and short-term returns and superior fund stewardship. To recognize the best fund managers, Morningstar each year selects leaders in three asset classes—domestic stock, international stock, and fixed income.
Press Release
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Robert S. Silberman of Strayer Education, Inc. Selected as 2007 CEO of the Year |
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Jan. 4, 2008—Morningstar named Robert S. Silberman of Strayer Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA) as its 2007 CEO of the Year. Morningstar’s annual award recognizes a chief executive who exhibits exemplary corporate stewardship, demonstrates independent thinking, creates lasting value for shareholders, and has put his or her stamp on an industry. Strayer Education, Inc., based in Arlington, Va., is a for-profit education company with 51 campuses in 12 states and Washington, D.C. It serves students in all 50 states and 30 different countries through its online programs.
Press Release |
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Acquisition of Hemscott Businesses from Ipreo Holdings LLC Complete |
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Jan. 9, 2008—Morningstar announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of the Hemscott data, media, and investor relations Web site businesses from Ipreo Holdings LLC for $51.6 million in cash, subject to working capital adjustments.
Press Release |
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Ibbotson Study Finds Living Benefits Can Help Increase Retirement Income While Reducing Income Risk |
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Jan. 16, 2008—Ibbotson Associates released a study finding that adding a variable annuity with a lifetime guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) to a traditional stock and bond retirement portfolio can increase income while decreasing income risk. The study examined two types of income risk, both the risk of a portfolio’s income stream declining from one year to the next and the risk of a shortfall. The research paper, titled “Retirement Portfolio and Variable Annuity with Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit,” was sponsored by Nationwide Financial Services, and can be found at http://corporate.morningstar.com/ibbotsonresearch.
Press Release |
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Morningstar Index Team Publications |
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Concise, in-depth analysis and data on market trends as seen through Morningstar's style, sector, bond, and commodity indexes. These free market commentaries are conveniently delivered to your inbox. Go to http://indexes.morningstar.com and click on "Request Market Commentary" to start your subscription.
Morningstar 4th Quarter Market Commentary
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Data Questions |
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Contact your account team or our data quality department:
U.S.
E-mail: dataquestions@morningstar.com
Phone: +1 312-696-6600
Fax: +1 312-696-6019
Mailing address:
Data Questions
Morningstar, Inc.
225 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
USA
Europe
E-mail: dataquestions.uk@morningstar.com
Phone: +44 20 3107 0070
Fax: +44 20 3107 0001
Mailing address:
Data Question
Morningstar Europe
1 Oliver's Yard,
55-71 City Road, London EC1Y 1HQ
United Kingdom |
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�2008 Morningstar. All rights reserved. |
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This e-mail contains privileged and confidential information and is intended only for the use of the recipient. Any dissemination, distribution, or duplication of this communication without prior written consent from Morningstar is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error please contact the sender immediately and delete the materials from any computer. You are receiving this e-mail because you are a Morningstar Data client, or because you asked that your name be added to the distribution list. If you wish to remove yourself from our institutional client communication list, please hit reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to opt-in to this e-mail list please hit reply and include your full name, title, company name and address. We will be happy to add you to the list. The newsletter is free, and we never release these e-mail addresses to third parties. If you change your mind and no longer wish to receive this e-mail, we will quickly remove your name from the distribution list. |
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