In an effort to bolster market transparency, the Nasdaq OMX Group, Inc. announced that it is starting to quote prices for structured products.
The exchange announced that its mutual fund quotation service (MFQS) is now pricing structured notes and market-linked certificates of deposits. It also says that it has reached an agreement with the Structured Products Association (SPA) to accelerate the growth of structured products that are eligible for dissemination through its MFQS.
The information will be available to investors for free. Jeff Kimsey, vice president, Nasdaq OMX Global Information Services, says that the addition of structured products provides a more complete view of assets across multiple classes.
“As a well-established and widely-accepted pricing mechanism, MFQS is positioned to provide a unique opportunity for structured products to compete with other investments,” stated Keith Styrcula, chairman of the SPA. “By utilizing the same pricing formats as mutual funds and [unit investment trusts], MFQS will permit market participants around the world to easily access pricing on notes and CDs in the system.”