Free fund analysis web site for investors in Ireland

Morningstar, a leading provider of independent investment research, today launched a new Web site to bring free investment fund data and analysis to investors in the Republic of Ireland.

The new Web site, available at morningstarfunds.ie, offers investors an unparalleled resource for data and analysis on more than 6,000 open-ended investment funds domiciled or available for sale in the Irish Republic. The site also includes access to quantitative and qualitative fund ratings assigned by a team of experienced Morningstar fund analysts, and a number of free online tools to make the searching and screening of funds for data and ratings easy and efficient.

"Our continued goal is to provide investors with the data and analysis they need to make betterinformed investment decisions," said Geoff Balzano, chief executive officer for Morningstar UK.

"Our dynamic fund data, coupled with detailed funds analysis from Morningstar analysts worldwide, deliver a real advantage to Irish investors as they tackle their investment decisions. We trust investors will find the new site useful, and we invite their feedback at any time."

In more detail, the funds research tools and data available at the Morningstar Ireland site include:

Morningstar RatingTM: A performance-based, risk-adjusted, and cost-adjusted quantitative fund rating to show, at a glance, a comparison of a fund's performance within fund categories.

Morningstar Qualitative RatingTM: A five-level qualitative rating that demonstrates Morningstar fund analysts' conviction of the fund's ability to outperform its peer group over the long term. Ratings are issued as one of five ratings-Elite, Superior, Standard, Inferior, or Impaired.

QuickrankTM: A fund database quick search capability that allows investors to review key statistics including price, performance, charts, management, and costs, on the wide universe of funds available on the site.

Fund ScreenerTM: A funds filter tool that enables users to search for funds based on parameters such as category, parent company, investing style, return, risk, and rating.

Instant X-RayTM: A fund 'X-Ray' tool that allows investors to view up to 10 funds at one time, for a snapshot of the funds' asset allocations, stock overlap, and fund style.