CHICAGO - Companies that are spending more than $25,000 to develop World Wide Web sites might be paying too much.
"It is not uncommon for executives to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop a web site when they should be paying somewhere in the $5,000 to $15,000 range," Sean Lapp, president of Information InterClear, Chicago, said.
InterClear, said Mr. Lapp, has developed web sites for money center banks, insurance companies, real estate firms and other companies.
A key reason many executives pay too much is because they don't know much about web site development, said Mr. Lapp. Some developers are taking advantage of executive ignorance, he said.
"Ninety percent of all web sites are exactly the same. It's the last 10% that makes each one different," Mr. Lapp said.
"Rather than charge customers to build that first 90% over and over, we've developed a way to automate the process so that all of our efforts are focused on the last 10% that really makes a difference."
Mr. Lapp can be reached at (312) 939-1188.
Frontier analytical package
SAN DIEGO - Frontier Analytics Inc. has introduced a new analytical software program for investment advisers.
FactMaster offers model (hypothetical) portfolio analysis, historical performance analysis, style attribution analysis, suitability analysis and an extensive historical returns database, said Randal J. Moore, president of Frontier Analytics, San Diego.
The historical returns database includes 35 years of performance history for 1,000 market indexes, 7,000 mutual funds rated by Morningstar Inc., and money manager products. The program permits users to import their own returns from managers and portfolios into the database. FactMaster data can also be exported to other applications.
FactMaster and all of its databases are upgraded quarterly. The initial fee for the program is $395, and quarterly updates are $99. For further information, call Mr. Moore at (619) 552-1268.
Vestek models Japanese market
SAN FRANCISCO - Vestek Systems Inc. has built stock selection and equity risk models for Japanese equity portfolios.
Vestek's Japanese MultiFactor System provides 38 quantitative models to help evaluate the attractiveness of individual securities. Models focus on such characteristics as forecast growth, earnings estimate revision, market liquidity, past success, risk and value.
Fund managers can use the models to rank a list of equities, evaluate the historical return to factors, or measure the exposure of a portfolio to each factor.
"With Vestek's MultiFactor System investment professionals can screen for factors that add value and build portfolios of the most attractive stocks," said Ralph Goldsticker, director of research and product development at Vestek.
Vestek's Japanese Equity Risk Model helps managers understand the risk characteristics of equities, portfolios and indexes. The model is used to calculate a portfolio's total risk and risk relative to a benchmark by examining the portfolio's industry weights and exposure to factors such as interest rates, company fundamentals and size.
For further information contact Marc Sievers at Vestek at (415) 398-6340.
PowerPoint compatibility
CHICAGO - Ibbotson Associates introduced its presentation software in the Microsoft PowerPoint format. Six packages covering asset allocation, global investing and investment principles are available.
The PowerPoint format allows users to integrate Ibbotson charts and graphs into their presentations and change the order of images.
One of the graphics includes "Stocks, Bonds, Bills and Inflation," which illustrates the growth of $1 in various asset classes from 1925 through 1995.
For more information, contact Heather Fabian at Ibbotson at (312) 616-7592.
Network security alert
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A new version of AuditTrack 3.0 alerts network administrators, auditors or department heads when activity has occurred with sensitive files.
Network auditing can be a critical component for demonstrating that proper security controls are in place for regulated institutions like banks and brokerage firms, according to officials with ON Technology Corp.
ON Technology distributes AuditTrack.
For further information, contact Steven Guthrie at ON Technology at (617) 692-3106.
Real-time quotes provided
PHILADELPHIA - The financial data provider Standard & Poor's ComStock will provide real-time stock quotes to the aexpert Advantage R.T. Internet Web site at http: www.aexpert.com.
AExpert Advantage R.T. is an online service provided by AExpert Inc., Philadelphia.
For more information contact Glenn P. Scharf at AExpert at (215) 972-0680.
