NYSE Group Announces Enhanced Methodology For The NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index

The New York Stock Exchange, part of the Intercontinental Exchange ICE global network of exchanges, today announced that it has enhanced the methodology for the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index (BTK), a widely followed benchmark for the biotechnology industry. The number of constituents held within the index will be increased from 20 to 30 names and the minimum criteria for initial and continued inclusion will be set at a higher level. The changes will be enacted at the next index rebalance effective before the open on Monday, October 20, 2014.

“The NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index is a leading benchmark covering the biotechnology industry for nearly 25 years,” said Laura V. Morrison, Senior Vice President, Global Index and Exchange-Traded Products. “These changes are being made to ensure that the index continues to best represent the evolving biotechnology space by increasing diversification and applying enhanced metrics for index inclusion.”

The NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index is an equal-dollar weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies that are a part of the biotechnology industry and that are primarily involved in the use of biological processes to develop products or provide services. Such processes include, but are not limited to, recombinant DNA technology, molecular biology, genetic engineering, monoclonal antibody-based technology, lipid/liposome technology, and genomics.

Below are the key changes to the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index methodology:

• Number of index constituents is increased to 30
• Minimum initial market capitalization requirement is increased to $1 billion
• Minimum initial 3-month average daily traded value requirement is increased to $1 million
• Buffer rules inserted to minimize turnover and provide adequate continued inclusion criteria

The list of new constituents to be a part of the index effective for Monday, October 20, 2014 will be announced after the close on Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Those constituents will be equal-weighted as of the close of trading on Friday, October 17, 2014.