The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) and Clean Edge, Inc. announced today the introduction of the NASDAQ OMX(r) Clean Edge(r) Global Wind Energy Index(sm) (Nasdaq:QWND), a new benchmark for the global wind energy sector. The NASDAQ OMX(r) Clean Edge(r) Global Wind Energy Index is a modified market-capitalization index and includes companies that are primarily manufacturers, developers, distributors, installers, and users of energy derived from wind sources.
"Wind energy is one of the world's fastest growing energy industries and the launch of this index brings more focus and definition to this important source of clean energy," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. "This index is also a valuable addition to NASDAQ OMX's current offering of environmental sustainability indexes."
"Wind energy was a $30 billion global industry in 2007 and is projected to continue growing in the years ahead," said Ron Pernick, Clean Edge Co-founder and Managing Director. "This benchmark enables investors to track the performance of pure-play and multinational companies that are key drivers of this rapidly expanding industry."
Invesco PowerShares Capital management LLC, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), will develop an ETF based on the NASDAQ OMX(r) Clean Edge(r) Global Wind Energy Index and list the ETF on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
"We believe the PowerShares Global Wind Energy Portfolio (Nasdaq:PWND) will represent a lower cost way for investors to access this key alternative-energy market with the structural benefits of an ETF," said Bruce Bond, President and CEO of Invesco PowerShares.
For more information about PowerShares ETFs, visit www.invescopowershares.com/products/.
