Indicators used to provide a point of reference for evaluating a fund's performance. The most common benchmark for equity-oriented funds is the S&P 500 Index. For fixed-income funds it is the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index.
Index that measures the performance of market allocations in a variable annuity. Also compares performance between a variable annuity and an investment portfolio. These indices cannot be invested in directly; also, in contrast to an investment portfolio, these indices do not require that transaction fees and other costs be paid by an investor. Also called stock or bond indices.
An index that correlates with a fund, used to measure a fund manager's performance.
An index a mutual fund is compared to because the securities held in the index are similar to those held in the mutual fund.
A designated index considered the most appropriate for comparing the performance of a fund. See Relative Performance.
The index or other measure against which the performance of a fund or portfolio is measured.... more on Benchmark index
An independently created and calculated security index having the closest correlation to an investment fund against which the manager's performance is regularly measured.
A statistical yardstick tracking the ups and downs of a particular market by monitoring a representative group of securities over time. For example, the Scotia Capital Universe Bond Index is a benchmark index that is designed to reflect the changes in the Canadian bond market.
Commonly referred to stock or bond indices used to measure market performance and to compare the relative performance of an investment portfolio.