NASDAQ Announces the Annual Re-Ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index

NEW YORK, Dec 12, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index(r), effective with the market open on Monday, December 22, 2008.

"The NASDAQ-100 Index is a globally recognized brand that includes 100 of the world's most dynamic non-financial companies," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John L. Jacobs. "Through an objective, transparent re-ranking process, the NASDAQ-100 Index continues its evolution as a relevant, investable benchmark. The NASDAQ-100 represents a diverse range companies and provides investors with a key measure of the performance of the world's leading large-cap growth companies."

The following 11 issues will be added to the NASDAQ-100 Index: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADP), First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR), Life Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq:LIFE), Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:ROST), Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:MXIM), Illumina, Inc. (Nasdaq:ILMN), Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. (Nasdaq:PPDI), O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (Nasdaq:ORLY), Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Nasdaq:URBN), J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:JBHT), and Warner Chilcott Limited (Nasdaq:WCRX).

The NASDAQ-100 Index is composed of the 100 largest non-financial stocks on The NASDAQ Stock Market(r) and dates to January 1985, when it was launched along with the NASDAQ Financial-100 Index(r), which is comprised of the 100 largest financial stocks on NASDAQ(r). These indexes were originally designed to segment NASDAQ into two major industry groups to support media coverage and to act as benchmarks for financial products such as options, futures, and funds. The NASDAQ-100 is re-ranked each year in December, timed to coincide with the quadruple witch expiration Friday of the quarter.

On a cumulative price return basis, the NASDAQ-100 Index has returned 797% since inception, although past performance is not indicative of future performance.

The NASDAQ-100 Index is the basis of the PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq:QQQQ), which aims to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond with the NASDAQ-100 Index performance. In addition, options, futures and structured products based on the NASDAQ-100 Index and the PowerShares QQQ Trust trade on various exchanges.

As a result of the re-ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index, the following 11 securities will be removed: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMLN), Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CDNS), Discovery Communications, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock (Nasdaq:DISCA), Lamar Advertising Company (Nasdaq:LAMR), Leap Wireless International, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEAP) Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT), PetSmart, Inc. (Nasdaq:PETM), Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Nasdaq: SIRI), SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK), Virgin Media Inc. (Nasdaq:VMED), and Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFMI).

About NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group

NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX Indexes. 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.nasdaq.com/indexes.

About 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 over 3,900 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX Group offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, including First North; 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 http://www.nasdaqomx.com.

To learn more about the criteria for inclusion to the NASDAQ-100, visit NASDAQ-100 Index.

Notes to editors:

The sponsor of the Nasdaq-100 Trust(sm), a unit investment trust, is Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC ("PowerShares"). NASDAQ, NASDAQ-100 Index, NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock and QQQ are trade/service marks of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. and have been licensed for use by Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, QQQ's sponsor. NASDAQ OMX makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in QQQ and makes no warranty and bears no liability with respect to QQQ, the NASDAQ-100 Index, its use or any data included therein. PowerShares is a trademark of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC. Shares are not FDIC insured, may lose value and have no bank guarantee.

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of PowerShares QQQ. Invesco PowerShares Capital Management, LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Distributors, Inc.

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, a unit investment trust, please contact your broker, call 800.983.0903 or visit www.powershares.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Company Briefs:

The following are brief descriptions of the 11 companies to be added to the NASDAQ-100 Index in descending order based on market capitalization as calculated in the NASDAQ-100 Index annual re-ranking review. Securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market that meet the eligibility criteria were ranked by market capitalization using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (NOCP) as of the end of October and total shares outstanding filed in public SEC documents through the end of November.

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is a provider of business outsourcing solutions offering a wide range of HR, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. ADP is also a provider of integrated computing solutions to automotive dealers throughout the world. The Roseland, New Jersey, company had a market capitalization of $17.7 billion at the time of the ranking.

First Solar, Inc. designs and manufactures solar modules. The Company uses a thin film semiconductor technology to manufacture electricity-producing solar modules. The Tempe, Arizona, company had a market capitalization of $11.7 billion at the time of ranking.

Life Technologies Corporation develops biotechnology tools used by researchers. The researchers work in the areas of personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. The Carlsbad, California, company had a market capitalization of $5.0 billion at the time of ranking.

Ross Stores, Inc. operates a national chain of off-price retail apparel stores. The stores offer brand-name apparel, apparel-related merchandise for the entire family, fragrances, gift items, and linens for the home. The Pleasanton, California, company had a market capitalization of $4.3 billion at the time of ranking.

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of linear and mixed-signal integrated circuits. The Company also provides a range of high-frequency design processes and capabilities that can be used in custom design. The Sunnyvale, California, company had a market capitalization of $4.3 billion at the time of ranking.

Illumina, Inc. is a provider of integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. The Company serves the research, agricultural and diagnostic markets with a range of high throughput array based and sequencing technologies which enable customers to understand the genetic basis of disease with the aim of improving human health. The San Diego, California, company had a market capitalization of $3.8 billion at the time of ranking.

Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. offers drug discovery and development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. The Company conducts pre-clinical programs and phase I to phase IV clinical trials. For approved drugs, PPD offers product launch services, and patient compliance and medical communications programs. The Wilmington, North Carolina, company had a market capitalization of $3.7 billion at the time of ranking.

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. retails and supplies automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories. The Company sells its products to do-it-yourself customers and professional mechanics or service technicians. O'Reilly operates stores throughout the United States. The Springfield, Missouri, company had a market capitalization of $3.6 billion at the time of ranking.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. operates retail stores and direct response, including a catalog and Web sites. The Company's Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie retail concepts sell fashion apparel, accessories, and household and gift merchandise. Urban also designs and markets young women's casual wear which it provides to the Company's retail operations and sells to retailers worldwide. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, company had a market capitalization of $3.6 billion at the time of ranking.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide transportation and logistics services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Company transports a variety of products including department store merchandise, paper and wood products, food and beverages, plastics, chemicals, and manufacturing materials and supplies. The Lowell, Arkansas, company had a market capitalization of $3.6 billion at the time of ranking.

Warner Chilcott Limited is a pharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on marketing, selling, developing and manufacturing branded prescription pharmaceutical products in women's healthcare and dermatology in the United States. The St. David's, Bermuda, company had a market capitalization of $3.5 billion at the time of ranking.

NDAQG

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SOURCE: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

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