NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced the results of the quarterly re-ranking of the NASDAQ Q-50 Index (Nasdaq:NXTQ), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 22, 2014.

The following eleven companies will be added to the Index: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALNY), Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXPE), F5 Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFIV), JD.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:JD), MercadoLibre, Inc. (Nasdaq:MELI), Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:MXIM), Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (Nasdaq:ODFL), Shire plc (Nasdaq:SHPG), Splunk Inc. (Nasdaq:SPLK), Stratasys, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS) and United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq:UTHR).

As a result of the revision in the NASDAQ-100 (NDX) index methodology allowing multiple share classes of index participants to be included in the index, the following security will also be added to the index: News Corporation (Nasdaq:NWS)

NASDAQ Q-50 Index is a market-capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of companies that are next-eligible for inclusion into the NASDAQ-100 IndexSM. The Index is comprised of 50 securities ranked by market capitalization and reflects companies across major industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade, and biotechnology. It does not contain securities of financial companies including banking and investment companies, as these are ineligible for NASDAQ-100 Index inclusion.

As a result of the re-ranking, the following eleven companies will be removed from the Index: American Airlines Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:AAL), Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR), Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE), Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:EA), First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR), Golar LNG Limited (Nasdaq:GLNG), Lam Research Corporation (Nasdaq:LRCX), Methanex Corporation (Nasdaq:MEOH), Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq:MPEL), Nuance Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:NUAN) and SolarCity Corporation (Nasdaq:SCTY).

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Nasdaq (Nasdaq:NDAQ) is a leading provider of trading, exchange technology, information and public company services across six continents. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Nasdaq enables customers to plan, optimize and execute their business vision with confidence, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight for navigating today's global capital markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 70 marketplaces in 50 countries, and 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. Nasdaq is home to more than 3,500 listed companies with a market value of over $8.8 trillion and more than 10,000 corporate clients. To learn more, visit www.nasdaq.com/ambition or business.nasdaq.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.

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