The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. launches options trading on the NASDAQ OMX Government Relief Index(sm), the only existing benchmark that enables investors to track the performance of US-listed securities that are participating in US government sponsored relief programs such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or other direct government investments. Options trading on the NASDAQ OMX Government Relief Index begin on Monday on NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. Susquehanna Securities is the specialist for this new product.
“This development gives investors the opportunity to trade options on a basket of US companies that are participating in the government’s financial relief plan,” says John Jacobs, executive vice president, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group. “This is the first of several products that enables investors to develop trading strategies involving some of the companies most directly affected by the current relief efforts.”
“We are excited to have Susquehanna Securities as the specialist for this product,” says Thomas Wittman, president of NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. “We hope that Susquehanna’s participation will serve to enhance liquidity and efficiency in the trading of the new options.”
The NASDAQ OMX Government Relief Index is the latest index launched by NASDAQ OMX Index Group and underscores its commitment to designing and calculating relevant world-class indexes.
The NASDAQ OMX Government Relief Index includes public companies that have received a direct investment from the US government of at least $1 billion. The Index is the first of the Government Relief Index Series that NASDAQ OMX is planning to launch in the coming weeks.
The Index is calculated in real-time across the combined exchanges and is disseminated in dollars. The index began calculation with a value of 1000.00 on 5 January 2009. For more information about The NASDAQ OMX Government Relief Index, including the list of component companies, visit the page.
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