Nasdaq Stock Market

The Nasdaq Stock Market is the world's oldest and largest electronic stock market and is now a national securities exchange and an independent self-regulatory organization (SRO).

It has no central trading location or exchange floor. Instead it uses a fully automated, open market, multiple dealer trading system, with many market makers competing to handle transactions in each individual stock.

The most active stock market in the nation, Nasdaq handles more initial public offerings than any other US exchange. It lists many emerging companies as well as industry giants, especially in biotechnology, communications, financial services, media, retail, technology, and transportation.