World Equity Benchmark Series (WEBS)

The World Equity Benchmark Series (WEBS) is a set of equity indexes that track the performance of global stock markets. The indexes are designed to be used as benchmarks for investors who want to compare the performance of their portfolios to the performance of the global stock market.

The WEBS indexes are based on the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Global Investable Market Index (IMI). The IMI is a broad-based index that includes stocks from developed and emerging markets. The WEBS indexes are constructed by dividing the IMI into regional and country-specific sub-indexes.

There are currently 11 WEBS indexes, which cover the following regions and countries:

* Developed Markets: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Emerging Markets
* Individual Countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom

The WEBS indexes are updated on a monthly basis. The indexes are calculated using a free-float market capitalization weighting methodology. This means that the weight of each stock in the index is based on its market capitalization, which is the total value of its outstanding shares.

The WEBS indexes are used by a variety of investors, including institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual investors. The indexes can be used to track the performance of the global stock market, to compare the performance of different regions and countries, and to benchmark the performance of investment portfolios.

The WEBS indexes are a valuable tool for investors who want to gain exposure to the global stock market. The indexes are transparent, easy to use, and provide a comprehensive view of the performance of the global stock market.