What is NASDAQ?

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The NASDAQ (acronym of National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American stock market. It is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the United States. With approximately 3,200 companies, it lists more companies and on average trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market.[1]

It was founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), who divested themselves of it in a series of sales in 2000 and 2001. It is owned and operated by The NASDAQ Stock Market, the stock of which was listed on its own stock exchange in 2002, and is monitored by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

With the impending purchase of the Nordic-based operated exchange OMX, following its agreement with Borse Dubai, Nasdaq is poised to capture 47% of the controlling stake in the aforementioned exchange, thereby inching ever closer to taking over the company and creating a trans-atlantic powerhouse.[2]

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