Colony Capital Inc. introduced a rules-based strategy for investing in the common stocks of real estate investment trusts.

The new Colony Capital Fundamental US Real Estate Index provides investors with "a differentiated approach" to investing in liquid real estate securities, Portfolio Manager and Head of Liquid Strategies Bill Hughes said in a release.

Colony Capital teamed up with Barclays Bank PLC to structure the index, for which Barclays Index Administration acts as index sponsor, owner and administrator.

Separately, an open-end mutual fund called the DoubleLine Colony Real Estate and Income Fund launched during the fourth quarter of 2018. The fund provides exposure to the new index and invests in a DoubleLine Capital LP-managed fixed income portfolio.