NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced the iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund (Nasdaq:SOXX), the first unlevered exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on the PHLX Semiconductor Sector IndexSM (Nasdaq:SOX), will commence trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market® on October 15. This ETF is designed to track the performance of the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index, the most widely recognized benchmark investors use to track the semiconductor industry. The index is a known institutional benchmark and is the underlying index for 27 structured products, 3 ETFs, an index option and an ETF option.
Due to increased investor interest in the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index, iShares Exchange Traded Funds, the world's largest provider of ETFs, recently announced it changed the index, name, ticker and primary listing exchange of its semiconductor ETF.
Fund shareholders are not required to take any action as a result of this announcement. The changes are effective October 15, 2010, and are generally summarized below.
| Current | New | |
| Fund Name | iShares S&P North American | iShares PHLX SOX |
| Technology-Semiconductors Index | Semiconductor Sector Index | |
| Fund | Fund | |
| Index | S&P North American Technology- | PHLX Semiconductor Sector |
| Semiconductors Index | Index | |
| Ticker | IGW | SOXX |
| Exchange | NYSE ARCA | NASDAQ |
| Index Names | 52 (as of 8/31/10) | 30 (as of 8/31/10) |
| Weighting | Modified market cap | Modified market cap |
| Methodology |
"The PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index continues to evolve as a widely-recognized benchmark for a growing array of investment strategies," said John Jacobs, Executive Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group. "With the introduction of this new iShares ETF, investors now have another option to invest in a sector that is poised to be a leader on the road to U.S. economic recovery."
The PHLX Semiconductor Sector index is a modified capitalization-weighted index composed of companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture, and sale of semiconductors. To view a complete list of component companies, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/weighting.aspx?IndexSymbol=SOX&menuIndex=0.
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, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX's brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group 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.nasdaqomx.com/indexes.
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 the NASDAQ OMX Group
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 approximately 3,600 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX Group offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; NASDAQ OMX Nordic, including First North, NASDAQ OMX Baltic and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX Group 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 Group exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.com. *Please follow NASDAQ OMX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQ-OMX/108167527653) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).
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 NASDAQ OMX's 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.
PHLX Semiconductor Sector® is a registered trademark of NASDAQ OMX PHLX (which with its affiliates and subsidiaries are collectively "NASDAQ OMX") and is licensed for use by iShares. The iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund has not been passed on by NASDAQ OMX as to its legality or suitability, nor has the product been issued, endorsed or sold by NASDAQ OMX. NASDAQ OMX MAKES NO WARRANTIES AND BEARS NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ISHARES PHLX SOX SEMICONDUCTOR SECTOR INDEX FUND.
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