Semi-Annual Changes to the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index

NEW YORK, March 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. NDAQ and Clean Edge, Inc. announced today the results of the semi-annual evaluation of the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index QGRD, which will become effective with the market open today.

The following four securities will be added to the Index: Enphase Energy Inc ENPH, Pike Electric Corporation PIKE, PowerSecure International POWR and Wasion Group Holdings LTD (HKSE:3393).

The index is designed to act as a transparent and liquid benchmark for the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. The index includes companies that are primarily engaged and involved in electric grid; electric meters, devices, and networks; energy storage and management; and enabling software used by the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. The securities must also meet other eligibility criteria which include minimum requirements for market capitalization and average daily dollar trading volume. The NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is evaluated semi-annually in March and September. For more information about the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, including detailed eligibility criteria, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.

The First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund GRID, is an exchange traded fund that seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, before the Fund's fees and expenses, of the NASDAQ OMX^® Clean Edge^® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. 

As a result of the evaluation, the following security will be removed from the Index: Echelon Corporation ELON.

About NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes

NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes has been creating innovative, market-leading, transparent indexes since 1971. Today, our index offering spans geographies and asset classes and includes diverse families such as the Dividend Achievers, Global, Nordic, Green Economy, Sharia and Commodity Indexes. We continuously offer new opportunities for financial product sponsors across a wide-spectrum of investable products and for asset managers to measure risk and performance. NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes also provides custom index services and design solutions to selected financial organizations. For more information about NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes, visit indexes.nasdaqomx.com.

Daily index values, weightings and historical data for NASDAQ OMX indexes are available via NASDAQ OMX Global Index Watch and NASDAQ OMX Global Index Data Service.

About NASDAQ OMX Group

The inventor of the electronic exchange, The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., fuels economies and provides transformative technologies for the entire lifecycle of a trade - from risk management to trade to surveillance to clearing. In the U.S. and Europe, we own and operate 26 markets including 3 clearinghouses and 5 central securities depositories supporting equities, options, fixed income, derivatives, commodities, futures and structured products. Able to process more than 1 million messages per second at sub-55 microsecond average speeds with 99.99% uptime, our technology drives more than 70 marketplaces in 50 developed and emerging countries into the future, powering 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. Our award-winning data products and worldwide indexes are the benchmarks in the financial industry. Home to approximately 3,300 listed companies worth $6 trillion in market cap whose innovations shape our world, we give the ideas of tomorrow access to capital today. Welcome to where the world takes a big leap forward, daily. Welcome to the NASDAQ OMX Century. To learn more, visit www.nasdaqomx.com. Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NASDAQ) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx). NDAQ

About Clean Edge, Inc.

Clean Edge, Inc., founded in 2000, is the world's first research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. Clean Edge managing director Ron Pernick and senior editor Clint Wilder released their latest book, Clean Tech Nation (HarperCollins) in September 2012, offering a bipartisan Seven Point Action Plan for Repowering America (www.cleantechnation.com). For more than a decade, the firm has delivered timely data, expert analysis, and comprehensive insights to governments, corporations, investors, nonprofits, and other key stakeholders. The company offers an unparalleled suite of index, benchmarking, and advisory services, including the Clean Energy Leadership Index subscription service which tracks states and metro regions, sponsored publications including the annual Clean Energy Trends report, and benchmark clean-tech stock indexes with NASDAQ. To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech news; access industry reports; learn more about Clean Edge, or sign up for the firm's free e-newsletters; visit www.cleanedge.com.

The information contained above is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice, either on behalf of a particular financial product or an overall investment strategy. Neither The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any recommendation to buy or sell any financial product or any representation about the financial condition of any company or fund. Statements regarding NASDAQ's proprietary indexes are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

NDAQG