The Nasdaq OMX Group, Inc. has launched a new index that tracks the performance of U.S.-listed securities that are participating in U.S. government sponsored relief programs such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The Nasdaq OMX Government Relief Index consists of companies across multiple industry groups that have received a direct investment from the U.S. government greater than US$1 billion. The new index is the first of the Government Relief Index Series that it will be launching 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 Jan. 5.

“This index allows taxpayers and other investors to measure the performance of U.S. companies that are participating in the government’s financial relief plan,” said Nasdaq OMX executive vp, John Jacobs. “We believe the Nasdaq OMX Government Relief Index will be useful in helping investors evaluate the government’s investments and the impact of the relief plan on the economy during this period of historical significance.”

IE