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The New Zealand Market (NZX) Launches NASDAQ OMX’s X-Stream Trading Platform

Date 16/11/2012

The New Zealand Market (NZX) has launched NASDAQ OMX’s (Nasdaq: NDAQ) world recognized trading platform X-stream, paving the way for a new era in global connectivity and product innovation going forward.

The go-live is the result of a successful intensive, seven-month project involving NZX and NASDAQ OMX. NASDAQ OMX was originally selected in competition with a number of global exchange technology providers.

X-stream complies with international standards and is capable of handling equities, debt, derivatives, commodities, ETFs and a range of other instruments on one single platform. The multi asset-trading system also provides flexibility in the creation of new products allowing for further innovation and growth in New Zealand’s markets, including dairy derivatives and the launch of equity derivatives in 2013.

Deployed in 22 markets, X-stream is one of the most widely operated trading systems in the world. The technology enhances NZX’s global connectivity network and ensures NZX remains current with trading platform technologies and trends facilitating overseas interest and demand.

“Working with an innovative, market-focused trading platform partner such as NASDAQ OMX, with its flexible X-stream platform, means we will acquire both the product, and the knowledge set, to innovate with our market offerings, while enhancing our global connectivity capabilities for the successful NZX Dairy Futures market,” said David Godfrey, Head of Information Technology, NZX.

“We are very pleased to be supporting NZX through our X-stream technology, one of the most sophisticated technologies available. New Zealand’s capital markets are some of the most dynamic in the world, and we feel NZX is in an even stronger position to continue its solid growth and attract new foreign and domestic investors through operating our technology,” said Lars Ottersgrd, Senior Vice President of Market Technology, NASDAQ OMX.

About NZX

NZX is an integrated information, markets and infrastructure company. NZX's strategy is building and growing markets, with expertise applied across the securities, energy and agri-business sectors. NZX operates the securities, derivatives and energy markets in New Zealand, builds and maintains the infrastructure on which they operate, and provides a range of information and data that supports market growth and development on a global scale. NZX owns a suite of securities information businesses, exchange traded fund provider Smartshares, and is a 50% owner of share registry Link Market Services. To learn more, visit www.nzxgroup.com. Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/NZXGroup). (Symbol: NZX and member of the NZX50)