NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) and Clean Edge, Inc. announced today the introduction of the NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index(SM) (Nasdaq:QGRD), a new benchmark for the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. The NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is a modified market-capitalization index and includes companies that are primarily involved in electric grid; electric meters, devices and networks; energy storage and management; and enabling software used by the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector.
"This index brings sharper focus to an industry that is transforming our nation's energy grid, an extremely significant endeavor that will help shape our nation's future," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. "Investors, thanks to this index, can now easily track companies that are working diligently to help fully implement an energy grid that is more efficient, cleaner and resilient."
"Our current electric grid is dated and deteriorating," said Ron Pernick, Clean Edge Co-founder and Managing Director. "To keep up with energy demand and meet modern energy needs, the next evolution in our electric grid will include the embedding of smart meters, controls, and networks to make the grid more intelligent and the introduction of a two-way flow of electrons and energy storage to enable better integration of renewable power and energy efficiency. This build-out is already under way and offers an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the way energy is generated, stored, transmitted, and delivered."
The NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is the latest in the line of eco-themed indexes created by NASDAQ OMX and its partners. NASDAQ OMX is leading the way in creating indexes designed to help the investment community track the next generation of companies involved in alternative energy, efficient transportation, and energy management.
The NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is calculated in real-time across the combined exchanges and is disseminated by NASDAQ OMX in U.S. Dollars. The Index commenced calculation today with a value of 250.00.
The NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is currently comprised of companies that are screened by Clean Edge. To view the companies in the NASDAQ OMX(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, visit our website www.nasdaqomx.com/indexes.
NASDAQ OMX is a global leader in creating and licensing strategy indexes and is home to the most widely watched indexes in the world. As a premier, full-service provider, the NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group is dedicated to designing powerful indexes that are in sync with a continually changing market environment. Utilizing its expanded coverage as a global company, NASDAQ OMX has more than 1,500 diverse equity, commodity and fixed-income indexes in the U.S., Europe, and throughout the world.
NASDAQ OMX's calculation, licensing and marketing support provide the tools to measure and replicate global markets. The NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group's range of services covers the entire business process from index design to calculation and dissemination. For more information about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.
Access to essential historical index data for NASDAQ OMX indexes can be accessed from a single source, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Watch. For additional information, please visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/indexwatch.aspx.
About NASDAQ OMX
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with over 3,700 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com.
About Clean Edge
Clean Edge, Inc., founded in 2000, is the world's first research and publishing firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. The company, via its publications, events, and online services, helps companies, investors, and governments understand and profit from clean technologies. Clean Edge, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland Oregon, offers unparalleled insight and intelligence on emerging clean-tech trends, opportunities, and challenges. Among its many activities, the company publishes the annual Clean Energy Trends and Clean Tech Job Trends reports; produces the annual Clean-Tech Investor Summit (along with IBF); maintains a number of benchmark clean-tech stock indexes with NASDAQ including CELS and QWND; and produces Clean Edge Jobs, a leading online jobs board for clean-tech job seekers, employers, and recruiters. To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech news; access industry reports; learn more about our services; or sign up for our free e-newsletters; visit http://www.cleanedge.com or email us at info@cleanedge.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The matters described herein may contain forward-looking statements that are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index and NASDAQ OMX Group's other products and offerings. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX's annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.
NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index ("Index") is the exclusive property of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., (collectively, with its affiliates "NASDAQ OMX") and Clean Edge, Inc. ("Clean Edge"). NASDAQ OMX has contracted with Standard & Poor's ("S&P") to calculate and maintain the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. S&P shall have no liability for any errors or omissions in calculating the Index.
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