Russell Investments
From MarketsWiki
| Russell Investments | |
| |
| Founded | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Tacoma, Washington U.S. |
| Key People | John Schlifske, President and CEO |
| Products | Asset management and equity indexes |
| Web site | http://www.russell.com/us/SiteNav.asp |
Russell Investments is a U.S.-based asset management and investment consulting group, and creator of an eponymous family of benchmark equity indexes. The firm is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and managed US$180 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2008.
The company offers 26 U.S. indexes - including the Russell 1000 and the Russell 2000 - which have spawned a host of derivatives contracts traded on a number of U.S. exchanges. The IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has an exclusive deal to list Russell-based contracts from the third quarter of 2008. ICE successfully transitioned the U.S. Russell Index complex to ICE Futures U.S. (formerly the New York Board of Trade) in September of 2008.
Contents |
History
| This page is sponsored by... |
 |
The company was founded in 1936 as a brokerage by Frank Russell in Tacoma, Wash., and expanded as the Frank Russell Company through moves into pension fund consulting in 1969 and then fund management in 1980.
The Russell 1000, Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indexes were created in 1984 to provide a benchmark for fund manager performance. Northwestern Mutual acquired the business in 1999, renaming it Russell Investment Group in 2003.[1]
Products and Services
Investment Consulting
Russell follows a disciplined investment consulting process that guides many of the world's largest investors.
Investment Management and Research
Russell manages more than US$180 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2008 in about 340 funds, allowing comprehensive and strategic diversification covering the range of asset classes.
Russell Indexes
Russell's US indexes represent nine of the top 10 benchmarks in terms of the number of products as well as the amount of assets, surpassed only by the S&P 500 index[2].
The U.S. family is based on the Russell 3000E. The large-cap Russell 1000 Index incorporates the largest 1,000 companies in the Russell 3000, with the balance used to form the Russell 2000. The Russell Microcap Index captures 1000 additional stocks, extending total coverage to 4000 in Russell's U.S. index universe. The indexes are reconstituted annually in June, with IPOs added on a quarterly basis.
The indexes have been used to create a range of products - including index futures and options and ETF futures and options - traded on exchanges including: the American Stock Exchange; NASDAQ; Chicago Board Options Exchange, the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), the New York Board of Trade, the International Securities Exchange, NYSE Arca, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
The Russell Global Index was launched in January 2007, using the Russell 3000 Index as its U.S. component, and divided into 300 core indexes covering 22 regions and 63 countries.[3]
Alternative Investments
Russell researches and provides expertise in alternative investment opportunities around the world including real estate, hedge funds and private equity.
Investment Services
Russell provides a full range of investment services, including portfolio management, transition strategies, commission management, cash management, derivatives exposures and agency foreign exchange, which are designed to improve investment performance and minimize the costs and risks of complex investment implementations.
Russell Retirement Services
In North America, Russell delivers target date and target portfolio products directly to Defined Contribution (DC) plan sponsors, as well as distributes LifePoints Funds through financial professionals.
Community
One of Russell's main corporate values includes active involvement in the communities in which its associates live and work. Russell invests in communities through focused giving, corporate giving and a generous cash matching program for contributions of time and money.
References
- ↑ Company Profile. Russell Investments. Retrieved on April 22, 2008.
- ↑ Press Release. Russell Investments. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
- ↑ Press release. Russell Investments. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
