What Is the Nasdaq?

Nasdaq

The Nasdaq is an electronic marketplace for buying and selling securities. Its name was originally an acronym for the “National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations”. Nasdaq started as part of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), now known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Nasdaq was created after the Securities and Exchange Commission encouraged NASD to create an automated market for securities not listed on an exchange. The result was the first electronic trading system. Nasdaq opened in 1971 as the first electronic trading system. Nasdaq began to operate as a national securities exchange in 2006.

There are more than 5,000 companies that are listed and traded on the Nasdaq. Many are major technology companies, such as Apple.

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