What's NASDAQ?

NASDAQ is a familiarbut strange name for people.We often learn its news via different kinds ofmedia,though quite a lot of people can not tell what exactly it means.

NASDAQ,short for theNational Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations system,is oneof the largest market in the world for stocks trading. The number of

companies in NASDAQis more than that of the other stock exchange in America,including the New YorkStock Exchange(NYSE)and the American Stock Exchange

(AMEX).

Most of thecompanies listed on NASDAQ are smaller than most of those on the NYSE andAMEX.NASDAQ has become recognized as the home of new technology

companies,especiallycomputer and computer-related businesses.Trading on NASDAQ is initiated bystock brokers acting on behalf of their clients.The brokers negotiate

with market makerswho concentrate on trading specific stocks to reach a price for the stock.

Different from otherstock exchange,NASDAQ has no central location where trading takesplace.Instead,its market makers can be found all over the country and maketrades

by telephone and viathe Internet. Since brokers and market makers trade stocks directly instead ofon the floor of a stock exchange,NASDAQ is called an over-the-counter

market. The termover-the-counter refers to the direct nature of the trading,as in a store wheregoods are handed over a counter.

Since its foundationin 1971,the NASDAQ Stock Market has been the innovator. As the world's firstelectronic stock market,NASDAQ long ago set a precedent for

technologicaltrading innovation that is unrivaled.Now poised to become the world's firsttruly global market,the NASDAQ Stock Market is the market of choice forbusiness

industry leadersworldwide.By providing an efficient environment for raising capital NASDAQ hashelped thousands of companies achieve their desired growth and

successfully makethe leap into public ownership.What can beinferred from the passage?

A.NASDAQ is theheadquarters of new technology companies.

B.Companies inNASDAQ are smaller than most of those on the NYSE and AMEX.

C.NASDAQ hasinnovated a lot in stock market.

D.Hundreds ofcompanies achieve their desired growth every year.