History & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureGames & QuizzesVideosOn This DayOne Good FactDictionaryCompanionsDemystifiedImage GalleriesInfographicsListsPodcastsSpotlightSummariesThe ForumTop Questions#WTFact100 WomenBritannica KidsSaving EarthSpace Next 50Student Center
Britannica Money
Subscribe Now

Nasdaq

American organization
Also known as: National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
Written and fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Updated:
acronym of:
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
Date:
1971 - present
Recent News
(AP)Stock market today: Asia stocks rise with market focus on signs of interest rate cut
(AP)Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground following surprisingly strong US jobs report

Nasdaq, an American stock market that handles electronic securities trading around the world. It was developed by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and is monitored by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange began in 1971. In 1992 it joined with the International Stock Exchange in London to form the first intercontinental linkage of securities markets. Nasdaq’s 1998 merger with the American Stock Exchange (Amex; later called NYSE Amex Equities) formed the NASDAQ-Amex Market Group. By the beginning of the 21st century it had become the largest electronic stock market (in terms of both dollar value and share volume) in the United States, but the NASDAQ-Amex Market Group folded in 2005, when Amex members reacquired the exchange. NASD spun off Nasdaq in 2000 to form a publicly traded company, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

Nasdaq lists more than 3,000 securities. To qualify for listing on the exchange, a company must be registered with the SEC, have at least three market makers (financial firms that act as brokers or dealers for specific securities), and meet minimum requirements for assets, capital, public shares, and shareholders.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Jennifer Agee.