Manage Custom Benchmarks

About Custom Benchmarks

PDC allows you to create user defined benchmark structures called Custom Benchmark entities, which belong to an entity type Custom Index (CIDX), and then calculate returns and weights for these structures.

You can also assign the created custom benchmark as benchmark for another entity. 

Types of Custom Benchmarks

Benchmark

Description

Benchmark

Description

Currency Conversion

Enables you to convert the vendor‐supplied index returns from their base currency to another base currency specified by the user

Blended Weighted Index

The custom benchmark return is equal to the weighted sum of the vendor index (source index) returns. To calculate this benchmark, you need to load the initial weights and any periodic changes to the weights.

For example, 50% LEHMAN + 50% SP500.

Floating Weight

The custom benchmark (target benchmark) return equals the weighted sum of the vendor index (source index) returns, but the weights are calculated by PACE, in between reset dates, using weights that reflect the relative change in source index levels over the period. You can define either:

  • Static Weight. Enter initial weights for the custom benchmark.

  • Active Weight. Identify a reference entity to use as the source of weights for the custom benchmark.

For example, 50% LEHMAN + 50% SP500, where the weights are reset to 50% at each quarter-end and allowed to float with the market in between quarters.

Floating Aggregate

The Floating Aggregate Benchmark builds performance data for aggregate benchmarks with floating weights. The source data can be at the sector level or security level, allowing you to create a blend for a total-level model, as well as a multi-level model, with or without underlying securities.

Hedge Index

Calculates index returns based on the assumption that the currency component of the source index return was hedged at the beginning of the period. The hedged returns are calculated with reference to the local return of the securities and segments of the source index and the base currency of the source.

Linked

Where the returns from more than one source index are used to form the time series of index returns. For example, SP500 for period A linked to R2000 for period B.

Also allows you to define a Hurdle Based benchmark, where the return is a specified number of basis points (bps) relative to a source benchmark. For example, 100 bps over SP500 for period A linked to 125 bps over SP500 for period B. For Hurdle Based benchmarks, you can either:

  • Apply a constant offset to each period in the year.

  • Apply a variable offset to each period within the year, such that linked results for the year have the specified annual basis point offset.

Constrained Index

Enables you to constrain, or limit, the weight of a security or segment level of a vendor-supplied index and:

  • Proportionately re-weight the remaining securities and segments

  • Recalculate the returns above the constrained level using the new constraint-weighted returns

  • Re-weight the securities and segments below the constrained level using the new constrained weights

Exclusion

Enables you to exclude segments or constituents from a vendor-supplied index.