NEW YORK, July 24, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announces it will introduce the NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index(sm) (Nasdaq:QIRL), a new global benchmark for NASDAQ OMX on July 28. The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will be a modified market-capitalization weighted index comprised of the largest and most liquid Irish companies that are listed on an index-eligible global exchange.
The launch of the index was announced by NASDAQ OMX CEO Bob Greifeld at the second annual Business & Finance US-Ireland Business awards luncheon in New York. Greifeld commented, "The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will provide investors with a benchmark to track companies in a country that has experienced consistently high levels of economic growth."
"We are excited to extend our partnership with the NASDAQ OMX Group and have licensed the index in anticipation of listing a PowerShares Ireland ETF later this year," said Bruce Bond, president and CEO of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management.
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), is expected to develop an ETF based on the NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index and list the ETF on The NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information about PowerShares ETFs, visit www.invescopowershares.com/products/.
The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will be calculated in real-time across the combined exchanges and will be disseminated in dollars. The Index will begin calculating on July 28, 2008 with a value of 250.00.
The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will be comprised of 23 components with an approximate market capitalization of $97 billion. The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will also include companies that are listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market including Ryanair Holdings, a NASDAQ-100 Index company, and Skillsoft Corporation.
About NASDAQ OMX Global Financial Products
NASDAQ OMX Global Financial Products (NOGFP) is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX indexes. NOGFP specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX's brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NOGFP 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland Index. S&P shall have no liability for any errors or omissions in calculating the Index.
NASDAQ(r), OMX(r), and the NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index(sm) are trade/servicemarks of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (which with its affiliates are the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by PowerShares Capital Management, LLC for purposes of the creating an exchange-traded fund based upon the Index. The PowerShares exchange-traded fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suitability and is not issued, endorsed or sold by the Corporations and the Corporations make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the PowerShares exchange-traded fund. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE POWERSHARES EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND.
Invesco PowerShares is leading the intelligent ETF revolution through its family of more than 100 domestic and international index-based and actively managed exchange-traded funds. With assets under management as of April 30, 2008 of approximately $13.86 billion, PowerShares ETFs trade on all of the major U.S. stock exchanges that trade ETFs. For more information, please visit us at www.invescopowershares.com.
There are risks involved with investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. The Funds are not actively managed and are subject to risk similar to stocks. Shares are not FDIC insured.
PowerShares(r) is a registered trademark of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC. Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC and Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc. are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd.
Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II.
Shares are not individually redeemable and owners of the shares may acquire those shares from the Funds and tender those shares for redemption to the Funds in Creation Unit aggregations only, typically consisting of 100,000 shares.
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