Accidental heroes

IPD has grown to become the main index provider for property derivatives. The company's story points to some of the obstacles facing this developing market, writes Rob Mannix

Property derivatives can only extend into new markets as fast as the indexes on which they are based. And the evolutionary approach at IPD, the UK-based information provider at the heart of the market, suggests the process will take time - no matter how desirable it might be.

Although IPD's profile has risen quickly in the derivatives market, the company is familiar with a more measured pace of progress. In fact, IPD first published indexes only as an offshoot of its long-standing work providing