The Nasdaq OMX Group and the Osaka Securities Exchange have said the first domestic exchange-traded fund based on the Nasdaq-100 Index will soon be available to Japanese investors.

The OSE has approved the listing of the Next Funds Nasdaq-100 Exchange Traded Fund on OSE's exchange-traded fund market.

Nomura Asset Management is the sponsor of the ETF.

The fund gives investors in Japan the ability to invest in 100 of the largest non-financial securities listed on Nasdaq, including Apple, Intel, Google and Microsoft.

"We are honoured to have the Next Funds Nasdaq-100 Exchange Traded Fund linked to one of the world's largest growth indexes, to be listed on OSE's market," says Michio Yoneda, president and chief executive of OSE.

"The introduction of the Next Funds Nasdaq-100 Exchange Traded Fund gives retail and institutional investors in Japan access for the first time to a domestic product that tracks 100 of the world's most dynamic large-capitalisation growth companies," adds Nasdaq OMX executive vice president John Jacobs (pictured). "We look forward to continuing to work with the OSE and Nomura Asset Management as we explore other opportunities to serve investors in Japan."

Nasdaq OMX and OSE signed a memorandum of understanding to form a strategic partnership in February 2009. The partnership facilitates cooperation and potential growth opportunities among both exchanges in various areas.