MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of research-based indexes and analytics, announced today a major expansion of its data set and analytical tools designed to help investors in commercial private real estate worldwide evaluate performance and sharpen analysis of strengths and weaknesses in their portfolios.

The expanded suite, Global Intel PLUS, covers more than 3,000 direct property indexes in 32 countries, including coverage of more than 240 cities worldwide. The product enables investors to customize the market information they see to their specific needs based on their investment strategies.

Global Intel PLUS aims to address the needs of portfolio managers, researchers and planners. MSCI developed the data set and analytical tools following consultation with owners and managers of real estate whose property assets under management exceed $650 billion* worldwide.

In response to some of the needs raised in the consultation, Global Intel PLUS moves beyond standard definitions of markets to refine views by sub-market, property sub-type and risk factors that may influence the performance and resilience of portfolios. In addition to analytics, it also includes measures to assess operating income and tools designed to facilitate reporting.

“We developed Global Intel PLUS after consultation with some of the largest owners and managers of real estate with an aim to address the evolving needs for data and analytical tools in the market,” said Jim Valente, MSCI’s Global Head of Real Estate.“By providing a consistent set of measures across countries and cities worldwide, the product can improve institutional investors’ insight into their portfolios, help them evaluate performance, and facilitate their identification of new investment risks and opportunities.”

Global Intel PLUS complements a series of recent innovations by MSCI designed to improve investors’ insights into private real estate portfolios. They include:

•        MSCI Real Estate Analytics Portal, which can provide insights into drivers of performance and risk across portfolios and markets.

•        MSCI Global Data Methodology and Standards for Real Estate Investment, which aim to provide transparency into the real estate investment market, and match best practice in mainstream investment measurement and performance assessment across all asset classes; and

•        Adoption of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks, which support consistency in measurement of private real estate performance for relevant markets.

* AUM as per asset managers’ public disclosures from June-December 2016