NASDAQ OMX Lists First Trust Strategic Income ETF

Provides Financial Advisors With an Innovative Approach to Generating Income

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NASDAQ OMX today announced that First Trust listed a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) which began trading on Thursday, August 14, 2014. First Trust Strategic Income ETF (Nasdaq:FDIV), listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market^® (NASDAQ^®).

"Finding ways to generate income for clients, while discerning the proper balance between yield and risk, is one of the toughest challenges facing financial advisors today," said Ryan Issakainen, Senior Vice President and ETF Strategist at First Trust. "This ETF provides a low-cost alternative to traditional fixed-income funds, investing in a diversified group of income-producing, fixed-income and equity asset classes, each actively managed by a talented team of specialized asset managers."

FDIV seeks a high level of risk-adjusted income and diversification through the use of multiple asset classes, targeted investment strategies and specialized management teams. By tactically blending multiple investment strategies, which includes both fixed-income investments and income-producing equity securities, the Fund may provide a lower risk, total return alternative to focusing solely on one strategy. This approach focuses on providing risk-adjusted income and capital appreciation potential by utilizing the expertise of multiple specialist asset managers in a single investment portfolio. FDIV offers a disciplined and transparent solution for investors seeking income.

"We strongly value our partnership with First Trust and are pleased to welcome FDIV, First Trust's latest exchange-traded fund innovation to list on The NASDAQ Stock Market," said Dave LaValle, Head of Exchange Traded Product Listings at NASDAQ OMX. "As First Trust continues to expand their product suite, we appreciate the confidence they have placed in the NASDAQ Exchange Traded Product platform, known for its scalability and end-to-end support for issuers."

NASDAQ OMX operates an efficient platform for successfully introducing a product suite into one of the single largest pools of liquidity, including market participants which represent a full spectrum of investors. ETF issuers benefit from an end-to-end solution that provides ongoing product support at every level including index licensing, listings opportunities, data offerings and trading services. As the home to some of the world's most innovative ventures, NASDAQ OMX generates opportunities for issuers to access new markets and deliver new concepts that change the way the industry develops, manages and applies ETFs.