Abstract: Participants in an interactive environment implemented by computer networks and other media such as interactive television are recruited to advertise products and brands to the other participants and viewers that are users of the media. Each participant may select from a set of available advertisements, which can be displayed in association with the user's avatar, virtual space and virtual objects within or embodying the virtual world. Participants are given incentives to do this by the availability of rewards, such as coupons, real or virtual money or other resources, which are provided by the advertising sponsors, based on adoption of the advertising by the participant, as well as on factors such as exposure of the selected advertisements to other users. Allowing the users to exercise advertising choice, as participant or viewer, the invention also facilitates collection of data regarding consumer preferences.

Abstract: A passive investment system based on indices created from various metrics is disclosed. The indexes may be built by selecting and weighting securities by an objective measure of scale such as accounting metrics rather than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Various financial, accounting, and non-financial metrics may be used to build an index. Additionally, a combination of financial non-market capitalization metrics may be used along with non-financial metrics to create passive investment systems. Once the index is built, it may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio.

Abstract: A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium may enable a computer processor to perform a method for generating a correlated investment. The method may include the steps of: discounting to present value one or more future liabilities at a discount rate of a bond that matures at the same time as the future liabilities; generating a correlated investment using an original investment amount and leverage funds; monitoring market information about a bond market using a computer; and recalibrating the correlated investment using the computer according to the market information, including: recommending at least one of buying or selling portions of the correlated investment as indicated by the market information. The future liabilities may be of a duration greater than the duration of the longest available bond issued by a sovereign.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product creates an index based on accounting based data, as well as a portfolio of financial objects based on the index where the portfolio is weighted according to accounting based data. A passive investment system may be based on indices created from various metrics. The indexes may be built with metrics other than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Non-financial metrics may also be used to build indexes to create passive investment systems. Additionally, a combination of financial non-market capitalization metrics may be used along with non-financial metrics to create passive investment systems. Once the index is built, it may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio.