Bangkok--4 Jan--Standard & Poor’s Model Portfolios Delivered Strong 2007 Performance Despite Market Adversity Standard & Poor’s Equity Research has announced the composition of its popular S&P PowerPicks 2008 and S&P Global Picks 2008 portfolios. These model portfolios are representative of the best stock ideas from Standard & Poor’s for the year 2008. For 2007, the S&P PowerPicks 2007 portfolio had a total return of 8.8% versus 5.5% for its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. S&P’s Global Picks 2007 portfolio delivered a 37.7% total return, while its benchmark the S&P Global 1200 Index had a total return of 10.2% for 2007.* “Standard & Poor’s Equity Research’s balanced approach to building diverse portfolios of equities with a wide range of return drivers powered the PowerPicks and Global Picks performance throughout 2007,” says Stephen Biggar, Director of Global Equity Research at Standard & Poor’s. “As we look at 2008, we believe that factors such as the slowing of the U.S. economy may cause a lack of clarity that could adversely impact global markets. With these portfolios frozen for the year, we’ll be drawing on our proven approach and our global team’s ability to identify those stocks from the more than 2,000 stocks we cover, which we believe will be well-positioned to come through this potential market volatility and provide positive performance.” The S&P PowerPicks 2008 Portfolio again consists of the 40 stocks deemed to be the “best picks” by the most senior of S&P Equity’s U.S. research staff, and includes selections from all 10 S&P economic sectors. The S&P PowerPicks Portfolio concept was initiated on January 1, 1997. From inception through December 31, 2007, the S&P PowerPicks Portfolio generated a cumulative total return of 225.9% vs. 136.8% for the S&P 500. The S&P Global Picks 2008 Portfolio again consists of 30 stocks, chosen by S&P’s global equity research staff, representative of the “10 best” selections from each of the major global markets, namely the United States, Asia and Europe. Since inception on January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007, the S&P Global Picks Portfolio has generated a 106% total return, versus a total return of 47.5% for the S&P Global 1200. * Readers should note that past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Clients of Standard & Poor’s Equity Research can access the portfolios by clicking on the “Ideas: Portfolios” tab on Advisor Insight, by selecting “PowerPicks” from the list on the “Portfolios” tab on MarketScope Advisor or the “PowerPicks” tab on the main page of The Outlook online edition. Non-clients can purchase a listing of either of the 2008 portfolios in three ways: Online for immediate download at http://sandp.ecnext.com/, by telephone at 617-530-8233, or via e-mail order sent to [email protected]. Members of the media can request a copy from the communications contact listed at the end of this release. About Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services As the world’s largest producer of independent equity research, Standard & Poor’s licenses its research to over 1,000 institutions for their investors and advisors, including 19 of the top 20 securities firms, 13 of the top 20 banks, and 11 of the top 20 life insurance companies. Standard & Poor’s team of 120 experienced U.S., European and Asian equity analysts use a fundamental, bottom-up approach to assess a global universe of approximately 2,000 equities across more than 120 industries worldwide. Follow Standard & Poor's equity analysts' U.S. market commentary each day at http://www.equityresearch.standardandpoors.com/. The equity research reports and recommendations provided by Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services are performed separately from any other analytic activity of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services has no access to non-public information received by other units of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s does not trade for its own account. The analytical and ethical conduct of Standard & Poor’s equity analysts is governed by the firm’s Research Objectivity Policy, a copy of which may also be found at www.standardandpoors.com or by clicking here. For further information contact: Jeff Sexton, Communications, Tel.: 212-438-3448 [email protected] Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 8,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. 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