NASDAQ Marks 20th Anniversary of NASDAQ-100 Index with Update of Inclusion Criteria
New York, NY, —The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ®; OTCBB:NDAQ) today marked the 20 th anniversary of the NASDAQ-100 Index®. The NASDAQ-100 Index, launched on January 31, 1985, has achieved wide acceptance by both investors and market professionals. It is composed of 100 of the largest non-financial stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market® based on market capitalization and is the benchmark for more than 400 NASDAQ-licensed products sold in 26 countries.
"For the past twenty years the investment and economic communities have looked at the NASDAQ-100 Index as a key indicator of financial market activity. Its continuous evolution is designed to provide a picture of the realities of the ever-changing global financial marketplace. As such, we have made a series of changes to the inclusion criteria for companies in the Index," said John L. Jacobs, Executive Vice President of NASDAQ.
The changes include:
- In conjunction with the Index's ranking review, an otherwise eligible security is now retained in the Index if it ranks between 101 and 125 by market value, provided it was ranked within the top 100 securities as of the previous ranking review. Previously, a security was retained if it ranked between 101 and 150, provided it had ranked in the top 100 securities as of the previous ranking review.
- Prohibiting a security from being added to the Index if the issuer of the security has entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement which would likely result in the security no longer being Index eligible.
The full list of NASDAQ-100 Index Criteria can be found on nasdaq.com
NASDAQ also announced that NASDAQ Financial Products Services, Inc. is now NASDAQ Global Funds, Inc. NASDAQ Global Funds (NGF) is behind one of the largest ETF fund families both in the U.S. and globally. Ranking third in the U.S., in terms of assets under management, NGF sponsors 5 ETFs: the NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock® (symbol: QQQQ) and the 4 BLDRS® (Baskets of Listed Depositary Receipts®) ETFs. In addition, NGF's European subsidiary manages the NASDAQ-100 Index European Tracker® (available only to investors in certain European countries), according to Mr. Jacobs, who is also the CEO of NGF.
The NASDAQ-100 Index is the benchmark for over 400 NASDAQ-branded products sold in 26 countries and the NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock, an ETF, known as QQQ®. It is the most actively traded ETF in the world and the most actively traded listed equity security in the U.S. based on the average daily trading volume as of September 30, 2004 (source: FactSet Research Systems Inc.). In 2003 NASDAQ listed an ETF that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ Composite Index® (symbol: ONEQ).
NASDAQ is the largest U.S. electronic stock market. With approximately 3,300 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology. NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com or the NASDAQ Newsroom at http://www.nasdaq.com/newsroom/ .
An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information about QQQ and BLDRS, unit investment trusts, please call 888.627.3837. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for QQQ and BLDRS.
###
Media Contact:
Wayne Lee
301.978.4875