NASDAQ Introduces the Q-50 Index

The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the introduction of the NASDAQ Q-50 Index(sm), an innovative tool to track the securities that are next eligible for inclusion in the world-renowned NASDAQ-100 Index(r). NASDAQ began disseminating the NASDAQ Q-50 Index today.

The Index is comprised of 50 non-financial securities ranked by market capitalization. They reflect companies across major industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade, and biotechnology.

"The NASDAQ Q-50 Index is a new benchmark for some of the world's most up-and-coming growth companies," said NASDAQ Senior Vice President Steven Bloom. "The Index arms investors with a portfolio of some of NASDAQ's fastest growing companies in a diverse range of industries. The launch of the NASDAQ Q-50 Index represents a significant extension of NASDAQ's success in bringing attention to its largest and most liquid innovative growth companies."

Securities in the NASDAQ Q-50 Index are next eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index, a globally recognized benchmark that is the basis of more than 500 investment products in 36 countries. The NASDAQ Q-50 Index is a price return index (Nasdaq:NXTQ), which is ordinarily calculated without regard to cash dividends on index securities. The Index commenced calculation today with a value of 150.00.

NASDAQ Financial Products (NFP) is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ indexes. NFP specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ's brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NFP also provides custom index services and design solutions as a third-party provider to selected financial organizations. For more information about NASDAQ's indexes, visit www.nasdaq.com/indexes.

About NASDAQ

NASDAQ is the largest U.S. equities exchange. With approximately 3,100 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology. NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks as well as a leading liquidity pool for trading NYSE-listed stocks. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at www.nasdaq.com