The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced the introduction today of the NASDAQ OMX Global Agriculture Index(sm) (Nasdaq:QAGR), a new global benchmark for NASDAQ OMX. The NASDAQ OMX Global Agriculture Index is a modified market-capitalization weighted index comprised of the largest and most liquid companies engaged in agriculture and farming related activities that are listed on an index-eligible global exchange.
"The NASDAQ OMX Global Agriculture Index is comprised of many of the world's most innovative companies that are committed to meeting growing worldwide demand for increased agricultural and farming productivity," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs.
"We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with the NASDAQ OMX Group, providing investors transparent, tax efficient access to a global portfolio of agricultural focused companies with the anticipated listing of a PowerShares 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 Global Agriculture Index and list the ETF on The NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information about PowerShares ETFs, visit www.invescopowershares.com/products/.
The NASDAQ OMX Global Agriculture 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 Global Agriculture Index will be comprised of 55 components with an approximate market capitalization of $465 billion. The NASDAQ OMX Global Agriculture Index will also include companies that are listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange, a part of The NASDAQ OMX Group, including Auriga Industries B and Danisco A/S.