Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign February 2014
Table of Contents 1 Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign Indices... 4 1.1 Index family structure... 4 1.2 Publication of the Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign Indices... 4 2 Bond Selection Rules... 5 2.1 Bond Type... 5 2.2 Issuer Type... 5 2.3 Time to Maturity... 5 2.4 Amount Outstanding... 5 3 Bond Classification... 6 3.1 Sovereigns... 6 4 Index Calculation... 7 4.1 Static data... 7 4.2 Bond Prices... 7 4.3 Rebalancing Process... 7 4.4 Index Data... 7 4.5 Index Calculus... 7 4.6 Treatment of the special intra-month events... 7 4.7 Index History... 8 4.8 Settlement Conventions... 8 4.9 Calendar... 8 4.10 Data publication and Access... 8 4.11 Further Information... 8 2
Changes to the iboxx JPY Sovereign Index Family 21 Feb 2014 Section 1: Updated the number of bonds and amount of debt outstanding as of Dec 2013 Section 2.1: Clarification around the explicit exclusion of inflation-linked bonds Section 4.3: Updates to the rebalancing schedule 01 Sep 2007 Launch of the iboxx Sovereign Japan indices 3
1 Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign Indices The Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign index family is designed to reflect the performance of Japanese Sovereign denominated debt. As of 31 December 2013, the index tracks 267 bonds with more than YEN 500 trillion worth of debt. The indices are an integral part of the global Markit iboxx index families, which provide the marketplace with accurate and objective benchmarks by which to assess the performance of bond markets and investments. The Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign index family is split into maturity indices. Prices for all bonds in the indices are provided by Japan Bond Trading Company Ltd. This document covers the index family structure, rules and calculation methodology. 1.1 Index family structure The iboxx Sovereign Japan indices comprise an overall index and maturity indices. The following maturity indices are calculated: 1-3, 1-5, 1-10, 1-15, 3-5, 5-7, 5-10, 5-15, 5+, 7-10, 10-15, 10+, 15+, 25+ years. The figure below provides an overview of the index family structure: Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign Overall Maturity indices: (1-3, 1-5, 1-10, 1-15, 3-5, 5-7, 5-10, 5-15, 5+, 7-10, 10-15, 10+, 15+, 25+ years) 1.2 Publication of the Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign Indices The indices are calculated once a day at the end of the trading day. Index calculation is based on the TSE trading calendar. In addition, the indices are calculated with the previous trading day s closes on the last calendar day of each month if that day is not a trading day. The base date of the indices is 31 December 2000. Index data and bond price information is also available from the main information vendors. Bond and index analytical values are calculated each trading day using the daily closing prices. Closing index values and key statistics are published at the end of each business day in the indices section on www.markit.com/indices for data subscribers. 4
2 Bond Selection Rules The following selection criteria are used to determine the index constituents: Bond type Issuer type Time to maturity Outstanding amount 2.1 Bond Type Only fixed rate bonds whose cash flow can be determined in advance are eligible for the indices. The indices are comprised solely of bonds. T-Bills, other money market instruments and inflation linked bonds are not eligible. The Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign indices include only bonds denominated in Japanese Yen. In particular, bonds with the following characteristics are included: Fixed coupon bonds ( plain vanilla bonds ) Zero coupon bonds Step-ups The following bonds are specifically excluded: Retail bonds. This for example concerns Japan Government bonds for Individuals. Discount bonds When issued bonds 2.2 Issuer Type Only debt issued by the central government of Japan is eligible for the indices. 2.3 Time to Maturity All bonds must have a remaining time to maturity of at least one year at the rebalancing date. The time to maturity is calculated from the rebalancing date to the workout date of the bond by using the day count convention of the bond. The expected remaining life is its time to maturity, expressed in years and calculated as the number of days between the last calendar day of the current month and its maturity. 2.4 Amount Outstanding All bonds require a minimum amount outstanding of JPY 200 bn. Amounts issued to the postal system and to individuals are deducted from the total issuance. 5
3 Bond Classification All bonds are classified based on the principal activities of the issuer and the main sources of the cash flows used to pay coupons and redemptions. The issuer classification is reviewed regularly based on updated information received by Markit, and status changes are included in the indices at the next rebalancing if necessary. The main sector classification within the Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign index family is Sovereigns. 3.1 Sovereigns Bonds issued by a central government of an eligible country and denominated in the currency of that country, in this case Japan. 6
4 Index Calculation 4.1 Static data Information used in the index calculation is sourced from offering circulars and checked against standard data providers. 4.2 Bond Prices Prices for all bonds in the indices are provided by Japan Bond Trading Company Ltd. 4.3 Rebalancing Process The Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign indices are rebalanced monthly on the first business day of the month. Changes to amounts outstanding are only taken into account if they are publicly known three business days before the end of the month. Changes in ratings are only taken into account if they are publicly known three business days before the end of the month. New bonds issued are taken into account if they are publicly known to settle until the last calendar day of the month, inclusive, and if their rating has become known at least three trading days before the end of the month. Ten business days before the end of each month, a preview membership list is published on the FTP server. Two business days before the end of each month, a membership list with the final amounts outstanding for each bond is published. This list contains the maximum number of constituents for the next month. On the first business day of each month, Markit publishes the final membership with previous business day s closing prices for bonds, and various bond analytics based on the index prices of the bonds. 4.4 Index Data A sub-index is calculated if at least one bond matches all inclusion criteria. If no more bonds qualify for an index, then its level remains constant. If at least one bond becomes available again, the index calculation resumes and is chained to the last calculated level. The assignment of a bond to a certain maturity bucket is based on its expected remaining life. All bonds remain in their maturity bucket for the entire month. The indices are also calculated on the last calendar day of each month irrespective of holidays and weekends. If the indices are calculated on a day that is a non-business day, then the consolidated prices from the previous trading day will be carried forward and the index will be calculated using those prices and the current accrued interest and coupon payment data. On the last trading day of a month, the rebalancing takes place after the daily index calculation for the current month s list, including the calculation of the last calendar day s indices, has been performed. On the last trading day of the month Japan Bond Trading Company Ltd submits bid and ask quotes for all new bonds, which are to be included in the indices for the new month. The calculation of the indices is based on mid quotes. New bonds are included in the indices at their respective mid prices. In the event that no consolidated price can be established for a particular bond, the index continues to be calculated based on the last-available consolidated price. 4.5 Index Calculus For specific index formulae please contact iboxx@markit.com. 4.6 Treatment of the special intra-month events The Markit iboxx Japan indices are volume-weighted indices, with a bond s market value as the weighting factor. The amount outstanding of a bond is only adjusted within the monthly rebalancing process at the end of each month. However, bonds that are fully redeemed intra-month are taken into account immediately. Fully redeemed bonds are bonds that are fully called or have been completely repurchased. Coupon changes to bonds are taken into account in the calculation of the indices from the exact date on which the coupon was altered. 7
4.7 Index History The index history starts on 31/12/2000. All indices have a base value of 100 on that date. 4.8 Settlement Conventions All Markit iboxx indices are calculated using the assumption of t+0 settlement days. 4.9 Calendar Markit publishes an index calculation calendar which is available in the indices section on www.markit.com/indices under Calendar for registered users. This calendar provides an overview of the index calculation times of the Markit iboxx bond index families in a given year. 4.10 Data publication and Access The table below summarises the publication of Markit iboxx Japan Sovereign indices in the indices section of the Markit website, www.markit.com/indices and on the FTP server. Daily Files Access Underlying file Bond level Markit FTP Server Indices files Index level Markit FTP Server/ Markit website Intra Month Files Previews_components Markit FTP Server Monthly files End of Month Components XREF files Markit FTP Server/ Markit website Markit FTP Server 4.11 Further Information For contractual or content issues please refer to Markit Indices Limited Walther-von-Cronberg-Platz 6 60594 Frankfurt am Main Germany Tel +49 (0) 69 299 868 100 Fax +49 (0) 69 299 868 149 E-mail Internet: iboxx@markit.com www.markit.com/indices For technical issues and client support please contact iboxx@markit.com or Asia Pacific Europe USA Japan: +81 3 6402 0127 General: +800 6275 4800 +1 877 762 7548 Singapore: +65 6499 0079 UK: +44 20 7260 2111 Licences and Data iboxx is a registered trademark of Markit Indices Limited. Markit Indices Limited owns all iboxx data, database rights, indices and all intellectual property rights therein. A licence is required from Markit Indices Limited to create and/or distribute any product that uses, is based upon or refers to any iboxx index or iboxx data. Ownership Markit Indices Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Markit Group. https://products.markit.com Other index products 8
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