WASHINGTON, DC -- 10/29/09 --
SPADE Indexes, a developer of proprietary
indexes and benchmarks, today celebrated the launch by OOK Advisors of the
first of two new exchange traded funds (ETFs). Focused on the State of
Oklahoma and the State of Texas, the products track underlying indexes
developed by SPADE Indexes and represent the first regional-focused ETFs to
reach the marketplace.
Launched today, the OOK Oklahoma ETF (NYSE Arca: OOK) is designed to track
the SPADE Oklahoma Index (AMEX: OKLAH), developed to benchmark the
performance of public companies headquartered in the state. The 29
companies include firms such as Devon, Cheseapeake Energy, Helmerich &
Payne, and Williams. Year-to-date the index is up 36.5% and has bettered
the broader markets in each of the past five years.
The forthcoming TXF Texas ETF (NYSE Arca: TXF) will track the SPADE Texas
Index (AMEX: TEXAS), and was developed to benchmark the performance of the
largest public companies headquartered in the state.
Both indexes are modified capitalization-weighted, rebalanced quarterly,
and comprised of companies that meet a set of minimum criteria including a
$5 share price, a $100 million market cap, and sufficient liquidity.
Additional information regarding the index rules, methodology, current
constituents, and historical performance can be found at
www.spadeindexes.com.
According to Scott Sacknoff, president of SPADE Indexes, "There are no two
states in this nation whose citizens are as proud of their hometown as
those that reside in Texas and Oklahoma. And both are examples of states
that put business first. Texas, if an independent nation, would have the
twelfth largest GDP in the world, just behind Brazil and Russia, and is
consistently rated one of the best states for business and regulation.
Likewise, Oklahoma is considered a top state for business and CNN/Money
recently ranked it the #1 place to launch a new business and called it,
'stable, affordable... with a diverse local economy.' Although both states
feature economies heavily dependent on energy, there is remarkable
diversification among the business activities of the index constituents.
SPADE Indexes is proud to partner with local financial institutions like
OOK Advisors and Capital West Securities in bringing these products to
market."
The two regional ETFs offered by Oklahoma City-based OOK Advisors join the
Powershares Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSE: PPA) as exchange traded products
that track indexes developed by SPADE Indexes.
For more information, contact:
Scott Sacknoff
Tel: 202-349-3917