The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announces it will introduce the NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index(sm) (Nasdaq:QIRL), a new global benchmark for NASDAQ OMX on July 28. The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will be a modified market-capitalization weighted index comprised of the largest and most liquid Irish companies that are listed on an index-eligible global exchange.
The launch of the index was announced by NASDAQ OMX CEO Bob Greifeld at the second annual Business & Finance US-Ireland Business awards luncheon in New York. Greifeld commented, "The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will provide investors with a benchmark to track companies in a country that has experienced consistently high levels of economic growth."
"We are excited to extend our partnership with the NASDAQ OMX Group and have licensed the index in anticipation of listing a PowerShares Ireland 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 Ireland Index and list the ETF on The NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information about PowerShares ETFs, visit www.invescopowershares.com/products/.
The NASDAQ OMX Ireland 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 Ireland Index will be comprised of 23 components with an approximate market capitalization of $97 billion. The NASDAQ OMX Ireland Index will also include companies that are listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market including Ryanair Holdings, a NASDAQ-100 Index company, and Skillsoft Corporation.
