NEW YORK, June 5, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the introduction of the NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index(sm) (Nasdaq:QMEA), a new global benchmark for NASDAQ OMX. The NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index is a float-adjusted market-capitalization weighted index comprised of the largest and most liquid companies domiciled in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.
"The NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index enables investors to track companies in a region that has experienced robust economic growth and strong job creation in recent years," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. "This index provides investors with a benchmark for a region that is actively implementing structural changes to promote continued economic growth and investment."
PowerShares Capital Management LLC, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), will develop an ETF based on the NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index and list the ETF on The NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information about PowerShares ETFs, visit www.invescopowershares.com/products/.
The NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index is calculated in real-time across the combined exchanges and is disseminated in dollars. The Index commenced calculation today with a value of 250.00.
The NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index is currently comprised of companies domiciled in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Index has diverse sector representation with financials having the largest weight followed by telecommunication services, industrials, materials, energy, consumer discretionary and utilities. To view the companies in The NASDAQ Middle East North Africa Index, visit our website www-qc.nasdaq.com/reference/QMEA%20Components.xls.
About NASDAQ OMX Financial Products
NASDAQ OMX Financial Products (NOFP) is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX indexes. NOFP specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX's brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NOFP also provides custom index services and design solutions as a third-party provider to selected financial organizations. For more information about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit www.nasdaq.com/indexes.
About NASDAQ OMX
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's broadest and most diverse exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology, and public company services across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; the OMX Nordic Exchange, including First North; and the 144A PORTAL Market. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products, and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. OMX Nordic Exchange is not a legal entity but describes the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.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 Middle East North Africa Index and NASDAQ OMX'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 Middle East North Africa Index ("Index") is the exclusive property of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. which, with its affiliates, is collectively "NASDAQ OMX." NASDAQ OMX has contracted with Standard & Poor's ("S&P") to calculate and maintain the NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index. S&P shall have no liability for any errors or omissions in calculating the Index.
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