NASDAQ OMX Announces Second Quarter Results

-Net Income is $101.6 Million ($56.1 Million in Q207)–

-$0.48 Diluted EPS ($0.39 Diluted EPS in Q207)-

New York, N.Y. — August 6, 2008 — The NASDAQ OMX Group ("NASDAQ OMX®"; NASDAQ: NDAQ), today reported second quarter 2008 net income of $101.6 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, an increase of $45.5 million from $56.1 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2007.

For comparison purposes net income and dilutive earnings per share for the second quarter of 2008 are presented on a non-GAAP basis and exclude merger expenses and gains from foreign currency contracts. Net income and dilutive earnings per share for earlier periods are presented on a pro-forma, non-GAAP basis that reflect the financial results of both NASDAQ and OMX as if they were a combined company for the periods presented and exclude merger expenses, gains (losses) from foreign currency contracts, and capital gains from shares in equity investments. For the second quarter of 2008 net income on a non-GAAP basis was $101.8 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, an increase when compared to pro forma non-GAAP net income of $77.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007. Second quarter 2008 non-GAAP net income also increased when compared to pro forma non-GAAP net income of $96.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008. The remaining results are presented on a pro forma basis unless otherwise noted.

Total revenues were $821.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. Revenues less liquidity rebates, brokerage, clearance and exchange fees ("net exchange revenues") were $380.2 million for the second quarter of 2008, an increase of $43.9 million, or 13.1%, from the second quarter of 2007, and a slight decrease of $1.3 million, or 0.3% from the first quarter of 2008.

"NASDAQ OMX delivered solid results during the quarter on the strength of our diversified business model," commented Bob Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer for NASDAQ OMX. "We've made excellent progress on the integration of OMX and now expect this transaction to accrete in first quarter of 2009, significantly ahead of schedule. Driving this acceleration is our confidence in realizing the $100 million expense synergy target by the first anniversary of closing the deal. And the integration of our most recent acquisition, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, is also well underway and is expected to accrete to our shareholders by the end of 2008. As always, we will continue to follow our long-standing operating philosophy of leveraging massive scale against the extreme efficiency of our core technology."

• Completed the acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, expanding NASDAQ OMX's presence in the derivatives market. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange, renamed NASDAQ OMX PHLX, the third largest options market in the U.S., will operate as a distinct market alongside The NASDAQ Options Market ("NOM"). With this transaction, NASDAQ OMX has a combined market share of approximately 17.0% in the U.S. equity options market between its two markets and a much larger footprint in global derivatives.
  
  
• Maintained NASDAQ's leadership position as the largest single pool of liquidity in which to trade U.S.-listed equities, matching 29.6% of all volume for the second quarter of 2008. Total volume matched on NASDAQ grew 34.1% from the second quarter of 2007. NASDAQ also achieved new market share highs in the trading of NYSE-listed securities, matching 22.1% of volume during the quarter. And during the month of July, for the first time NASDAQ captured more trading in NYSE-listed securities than the New York Stock Exchange on certain trading days.
  
  
• NASDAQ OMX continued the success of its Market Technology business as it was selected as the technology provider for the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) and the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange (HKMEx). TOCOM is Japan's largest commodity exchange with more than 75% market share, and lists commodities futures and options contracts, including metals, oil and rubber. HKMEx is a new commodity exchange that will offer uniquely-structured contracts to the international and domestic trading community.
  
  
• The NASDAQ Closing Cross reached a record day in the quarter as it was used to calculate the entire family of U.S. Russell indexes during their annual reconstitution. Approximately 893.3 million shares representing a record $12.0 billion were executed in the Closing Cross.
  
  
• The NOM, which began operations March 31, 2008, completed its first full quarter of operations. NOM is an electronic equity and index options market and the first options trading platform to offer true price/time priority. This market now regularly trades approximately 175,000 contracts per day, representing more than 1.0% of the total market.
  
  
• NASDAQ became the first U.S. stock exchange to facilitate universal, free access to real-time trade data with the launch of "NASDAQ Last Sale," -- or the last quoted price -- together with CNBC, Google, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network and Xignite.
  
  
• NASDAQ OMX's pan European market, now known as NASDAQ OMX Europe, selected European Multilateral Clearing Facility (EMCF), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortis, an international financial services provider, to deliver clearing services for NASDAQ OMX Europe. NASDAQ OMX Europe also launched proximity services, often known as "co-location," enabling participants to locate their trading engines on-site in order to enhance trading speed. NASDAQ OMX Europe is expected to begin operations in September.
  
  
• NASDAQ OMX attracted 54 new listings in the second quarter of 2008, with 42 new listings in the U.S. and 12 in the Nordic market. Included were 14 switches from the American Stock Exchange, bringing the total for the year to 32. A notable listing in the second quarter is the switch from the New York Stock Exchange of CA Inc. (Nasdaq:CA), a leading independent IT management software company. CA Inc. became the first NYSE-listed company to transfer to NASDAQ and keep its two letter ticker symbol. Also, in July, CME Group (Nasdaq:CME) listed its common stock solely on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, ceasing its listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
  
  
• During the quarter NASDAQ OMX introduced 19 new and innovative indexes, such as the NASDAQ OMX Middle East North Africa Index (NASDAQ:QMEA), an index comprised of the largest and most liquid companies domiciled in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. And in partnership with Clean Edge, Inc., NASDAQ OMX introduced the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge® Global Wind Energy Index (Nasdaq:QWND), a new benchmark for the global wind energy sector that includes companies that are primarily manufacturers, developers, distributors, installers, and users of energy derived from wind sources.

"When looking at our results on a pro-forma non-GAAP basis, we delivered strong net income growth both sequentially and year-over-year," said David Warren, NASDAQ OMX's Chief Financial Officer. "Our integration with OMX is moving forward better than expected and the integration of PHLX is well underway despite closing the transaction only two weeks ago. These integrations, coupled with the planned acquisitions of the Boston Stock Exchange and certain assets of Nord Pool, provide us with a platform to drive continued efficiencies and improved performance this year and well into 2009 and beyond."

Financial Review

NASDAQ OMX generates net exchange revenues from a diverse array of business operations.

Market Services

Market Services net exchange revenues increased to $252.8 million, up 13.9% from the prior year quarter but down 4.2% from the first quarter of 2008.

Transaction Services

Net exchange revenues from Transaction Services were $136.5 million for the second quarter of 2008, an increase of $16.3 million, or 13.6%, when compared to the second quarter of 2007. Net exchange revenues declined $15.1 million, or 10.0%, from the first quarter of 2008.

• Cash Equity Trading net exchange revenues increased from the prior year quarter but declined from the first quarter of 2008.
  • The increase from the prior year quarter is primarily due to higher trading volumes for U.S.-listed equities. Volume matched on NASDAQ systems increased to 136.4 billion shares in the second quarter of 2008, up 34.1% from 101.7 billion shares in the second quarter of 2007.
  • Decreases in net exchange revenues when compared to the first quarter of 2008 are due primarily to a rebate received from the National Securities Clearing Corporation, or NSCC, in the prior quarter. This rebate reduced cost of revenues, and therefore resulted in higher net exchange revenues in the first quarter of 2008. Also contributing to the decline in cash equity trading net exchange revenues from the first quarter of 2008 are lower trading volumes in both U.S. and Nordic equities.
  • Included in U.S. cash equity trading revenues in the second quarter of 2008 are $37.3 million in SEC Section 31 fees, compared with $73.1 million in the second quarter of 2007 and $91.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. Corresponding cost of revenues reflecting the reimbursement of these fees to the SEC are included in brokerage, clearance and exchange fees.
  
  
• Derivative Trading revenues increased from the prior year quarter but declined from the first quarter of 2008.
  • The increase from the prior year quarter is primarily due to higher volume in fixed income products. Also contributing to the increases in revenues from the prior year quarter are changes in the exchange rate of Swedish Krona as compared to the U.S. dollar. Included in second quarter 2008 net derivative revenues is $0.8 million associated with the NOM, which began operations on March 31, 2008.
  • The decline in derivatives trading revenue when compared to the first quarter of 2008 is due to lower transaction volumes in the second quarter of 2008.

Market Data

Market Data revenues were $87.1 million for the second quarter of 2008, up $9.6 million, or 12.4%, when compared to the second quarter of 2007, and up $3.9 million, or 4.7% from the first quarter of 2008.

• Net U.S. Tape Plan revenues in the second quarter of 2008 were down slightly when compared to the prior year quarter, but were up $1.4 million, or 4.0% from the first quarter of 2008.
  • U.S. Tape Plan revenues reflect revenues generated by members of joint industry plans that distribute the national best bid and offer and last sale information for U.S. equities. Plan members, such as NASDAQ OMX, share revenue collected from disseminating this information. The distribution of revenue to each plan member is determined using a formula, required by Regulation NMS, that calculates each participant's share of trading and quoting activity.
  • Driving U.S. Tape Plan revenues, net of revenue sharing plans, higher in the second quarter of 2008 when compared to the first quarter of 2008 were increases in NASDAQ OMX's share of trading and quoting activity in NYSE-listed securities. Somewhat offsetting this increase is a decline in NASDAQ OMX's share of trading and quoting activity in NASDAQ-listed securities.
  
  
• U.S. market data products revenues were $25.7 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of $4.6 million, or 21.8% when compared to the year ago quarter, and up $1.0 million, or 4.0% when compared to the first quarter of 2008. U.S. market data products revenues reflect revenue generated from the sale of NASDAQ OMX proprietary data products. Revenue growth when compared to the prior year quarter is driven by the launch of OpenView Basic, which was launched during the second quarter of 2007, and continued TotalView subscriber growth. Revenue growth when compared to the first quarter of 2008 is driven primarily by TotalView subscriber growth. Demand for other NASDAQ OMX proprietary products also contributed to revenue growth.
• European market data products revenues were $25.2 million in the second quarter of 2008, an increase when compared to the prior year quarter and the first quarter of 2008 due to higher demand for Nordic market data products and changes in the exchange rate of Swedish Krona as compared to the U.S. dollar.

Issuer Services

During the second quarter of 2008 Issuer Services revenues increased 2.5%, or $2.1 million, to $87.6 million from the second quarter of 2007 and 1.6%, or $1.4 million, from the prior quarter.

Listing Services

Listing Services revenues were $76.7 million for the second quarter of 2008, up $2.0 million, or 2.7%, when compared to both the second quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. Increases in revenues from prior periods are driven primarily by higher customer demand for corporate services provided by PrimeNewswire, Shareholder.com, Carpenter Moore Insurance, and Directors Desk.

Financial Products

Financial Products revenues were $10.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, up slightly when compared to the second quarter of 2007, but down $0.6 million when compared to the first quarter of 2008. The decline from the first quarter of 2008 is primarily due to lower license revenues associated with NASDAQ-licensed products.

Market Technology

Market Technology revenues were $38.7 million for the second quarter of 2008, an increase of $10.2 million, or 35.8%, when compared to $28.5 million in the second quarter of 2007 and an increase of $7.6 million, or 24.4%, when compared to $31.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. Revenue increases when compared to prior periods reflect new projects and increased demand for licensed products, technology support, and facilities management services.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased 9.6%, or $19.7 million, to $225.4 million from $205.7 million in the prior year quarter and 4.3%, or $9.3 million from $216.1 million in the prior quarter. Higher expenses were driven primarily by higher compensation expenses due to increases in accrued incentive compensation and higher amortized expenses associated with equity grants made to former OMX employees. Also contributing to higher costs in the current period were additional merger expenses. Somewhat offsetting these increases were declines in depreciation and amortization, reduced spending for professional and contract services and general and administrative expenses.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense was $12.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared with $17.6 million for the second quarter of 2007 and $17.8 million for the first quarter of 2008. The decline in net interest expense is primarily due to lower interest rates.

Dividend and Investment Income

Dividend and investment income was $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2008, up $0.4 million from the second quarter of 2007, and up $1.2 million when compared to the first quarter of 2008. Dividend and investment income for the quarter includes an ordinary dividend received on an investment in our available-for-sale portfolio.

Earnings Per Share

On a non-GAAP pro forma basis, second quarter 2008 earnings per diluted share were $0.48 versus $0.38 per diluted share in the prior year quarter, and $0.45 in the first quarter of 2008. NASDAQ OMX's weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share were 214.4 million in the second quarter of 2008 versus 212.5 million in the year-ago quarter and 214.1 million in the first quarter of 2008.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; the OMX Nordic Exchange, including First North; and the 144A PORTAL Market. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. OMX Nordic Exchange is not a legal entity but describes the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.com.

Non-GAAP Information

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with GAAP, NASDAQ OMX also discloses certain non-GAAP results of operations, including net income and diluted earnings per share, that make certain adjustments or exclude certain charges and gains that are described in the reconciliation table of non-GAAP to GAAP information provided at the end of this release. Management believes that this non-GAAP information provides investors with additional information to assess NASDAQ OMX's operating performance by making certain adjustments or excluding costs or gains and assists investors in comparing our operating performance to prior periods. Management uses this non-GAAP information, along with GAAP information, in evaluating its historical operating performance. The non-GAAP information is not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to non-GAAP information used by other companies. The non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, other data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this communication contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. NASDAQ OMX cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (i) projections about our future financial results, growth and achievement of synergy targets, (ii) statements about the implementation dates and benefits of certain strategic initiatives, including NASDAQ OMX Europe and the transactions contemplated by our agreements with the Boston Stock Exchange and NordPool, and (iii) statements about our integrations with OMX and PHLX and (iv) other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, NASDAQ OMX's ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, and other factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX's filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2008 which are available on NASDAQ OMX's website at http://www.nasdaqomx.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. NASDAQ OMX undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:
Bethany Sherman
+1.212.401.8741

Vince Palmiere
+1.212.401.8742

Jonas Rodny
+46(8)405.7267