What is the Nasdaq Global Index family?

The Nasdaq Global Index family encompasses a diverse range of indexes designed to track various asset classes, sectors, and geographies. These indexes include well-known benchmarks like the Nasdaq-100®, as well as thematic, quantitative, and custom indexes tailored to meet specific investment needs. The Nasdaq Global Index family serves as a comprehensive toolkit for investors looking to track market performance, create investment products, or benchmark their portfolios.

What is the difference between the Nasdaq Capital Market and Nasdaq Global Market?

The Nasdaq Capital Market and Nasdaq Global Market are two of the three tiers within the Nasdaq Stock Market, differentiated by the size and financial strength of the companies listed. The Nasdaq Capital Market is for smaller, growth-oriented companies that meet specific financial and liquidity requirements. The Nasdaq Global Market, on the other hand, lists mid-sized companies that meet higher financial and liquidity standards compared to the Capital Market, but lower than those required for the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Is Nasdaq OMX the same as Nasdaq?

Yes, Nasdaq OMX was the name of the company after its merger with OMX, a Nordic exchange group, in 2008. However, the company has since rebranded back to Nasdaq, Inc. The rebranding reflects the company’s broadening scope beyond traditional exchange services to include data, technology, and global financial services.

What is the difference between SPX and NDX®?

SPX is the ticker symbol for the S&P 500 Index, which tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S. companies across various industries. NDX® is the ticker symbol for the Nasdaq-100 Index®, which tracks the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. While SPX is broader and more diversified across different sectors, NDX has a heavier concentration in technology and innovation-driven companies, making it more tech-centric.

What is the difference between the Nasdaq and the NDAQ?

Nasdaq is a global electronic marketplace for buying and selling securities, as well as a technology provider for other exchanges. "NDAQ" is the ticker symbol for Nasdaq, Inc., the company that operates the Nasdaq stock exchange and other financial services. When people refer to "Nasdaq," they are usually talking about the stock exchange, while "NDAQ" refers to the publicly traded shares of Nasdaq, Inc.

How is QQQ related to Nasdaq?

QQQ is the ticker symbol for the Invesco QQQ Trust, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. By purchasing shares of QQQ, investors can gain exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. QQQ is one of the most popular ETFs in the world, known for its liquidity and representation of growth-oriented companies.

What is the difference between the Nasdaq and the Nasdaq-100®?

The Nasdaq refers to the Nasdaq Stock Market, which lists over 3,000 companies across various sectors. The Nasdaq-100, on the other hand, is a specific index that tracks the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nasdaq-100 is known for its focus on technology and innovation-driven companies, making it a key benchmark for growth-oriented investors.

Global Index Solutions

A Leader in Indexing for Today's Economy

Nasdaq Index Solutions

Navigating Market Complexity at Scale

In a rapidly changing financial landscape, the way we think about investing needs to adapt and evolve

What Are Nasdaq Indexes?

Nasdaq Global Indexes is a premier provider of innovative, market-leading index solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s investors. With a comprehensive range of indexes that cover various asset classes, sectors, and geographies, Nasdaq delivers powerful benchmarks that are in sync with the dynamic market environment.

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Empowering Resilient Growth for All Market Participants

Asset Managers

Co-create innovative solutions tailored to market trends and investor demands through a rigorous development process
Tell a differentiated story across the product lifecycle to demonstrate growth potential and elevate your brand
Reach a wider audience by plugging into a global ecosystem of banks, brokers, partners, and corporates

Enhance Your Investment Products ->

Insurance Providers

Diversify your annuities with indexes that strike the right balance of performance, liquidity, and investor recognition
Elevate your brand strength with index-linked products and marketing activations that generate immediate interest and trust
Amplify your story across the entire value chain - from banks, to financial advisors to the end investor

Innovate Your Insurance Products ->

Asset Owners

Allocate capital through diverse vehicles that offer liquidity and broad market appeal
Easily measure, manage, and report on complex portfolios with tailored benchmarks and insights
Capitalize on emerging thematic investment opportunities by aligning your portfolio to the latest mega trends

Empower Your Portfolio ->

Financial Advisors

Quickly filter out the noise with security screening and custom model building tools, optimizing asset allocation for client's unique needs
Confidently recommend strategies across different wrappers and structures—even building your own momentum-based portfolios
Differentiate your relationships by becoming your clients' source for unique insights—not just on products, but macroeconomic trends

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Nasdaq Global Indexes Diverse Index Offerings

A Global Approach

Nasdaq's global approach provides extensive index coverage that spans developed, emerging, and frontier markets, allowing financial professionals to tap into diverse investment opportunities worldwide. By combining local market expertise with global insights, we offer indexes that reflect regional nuances while informing global strategies. Our seamless integration of real-time data services and understanding of international principles can help you navigate the complexities of global investing, providing the tools and insights needed to succeed in today's interconnected markets.

>> Read About the Benefits of Nasdaq Global Indexes

Why Nasdaq?

When you partner with Nasdaq, you will filter and prioritize investment opportunities based on evolving market trends and investor preferences. With innovative index-linked solutions, research tools, and brand equity, Nasdaq empowers clients to create tailored products and strategies that are instantly credible and resonate with modern demands.

You’ll stand out in the noise by pairing differentiated products and strategies with simple, compelling stories of investor value. Nasdaq builds end-to-end partnerships with clients, offering co-development, co-marketing, distribution, and field support—from investment idea to market launch and beyond.

And you’ll amplify your growth by plugging into Nasdaq’s trusted ecosystem, which helps market participants find and capture timely opportunities through an unmatched combination of access, insights, credibility, and confidence.

Opportunities Nasdaq Global Indexes Can Help Address

01 Explosion of Investable Products

We’re seeing an explosion of investment products as asset managers try to differentiate themselves in a saturated market. However, that’s adding to the overwhelm many advisors and investors had already been feeling. Meanwhile, increased competition from lower-cost players and fee compression continue to squeeze profitability.

Nasdaq Solution: Total lifecycle support with co-development, co-marketing, distribution, and liquidity for $600B+ in Nasdaq-linked products.

02 Massive Shifts in Investor Demographics

At the same time, investor demographics and behavior are shifting fast. An aging population of retirees is looking for distribution. Enormous amounts of wealth are transferring to younger investors. And groups like Gen Z are using the latest tech to self-educate—which means they increasingly expect personalized service and solutions. In short, it's getting tougher to engage different individuals in all the ways—and across all the channels—they prefer.

Nasdaq Solution: Market-driving innovation, including the Nasadq-100 Index®, which has outperformed the S&P 500 by 300 basis points annually, offering differentiated, future-ready solutions tailored to evolving investor needs.

03 Dynamic Macroeconomic & Regulatory Trends

All of this is happening amidst an ongoing backdrop of macroeconomic volatility. Interest rate fluctuations; underperformance of traditional/active investment vehicles; increased scrutiny around fee transparency and risk management—they’ve all raised the stakes for every decision made.

Nasdaq Solution: A trusted ecosystem spanning 90 markets, partnerships with 90+ issuers, and a network of capital markets experts to ensure adaptability, resilience, and compliance.

Nasdaq Global Indexes Benefits

: Enhanced Investment Strategies

Utilize Nasdaq's diverse indexes to craft well-rounded, robust investment portfolios.

Global Reach with Local Precision

Access a broad spectrum of indexes that cater to global markets while providing precise, region-specific solutions.

Innovation at Your Fingertips

Benefit from cutting-edge indexing technology and methodologies that enhance accuracy and transparency.

Comprehensive Data Solutions

Seamless access to real-time index data ensures you’re always in sync with market movements.

Sustainable and Ethical Investment Options

Engage with indexes that prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, allowing you to align your investments with your values.

Nasdaq Global Indexes

Nasdaq-100®

One of the world’s preeminent large-cap growth indexes, comprised of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Known for its strong representation of technology and innovation-driven companies, the Nasdaq-100 Index® is a benchmark for global growth and a cornerstone for investors looking to capture the performance of industry leaders.

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Nasdaq Composite®

Encompassing more than 3,000 stocks, the Nasdaq Composite® Index provides a comprehensive view of the market’s performance, particularly in the technology sector. This index is widely followed by investors, analysts, and financial professionals as a barometer of overall market health and a key indicator of market trends.

Dive into the Nasdaq Composite®
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Thematic Indexes

These indexes are designed to capture the growth potential of sectors such as clean energy, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and other cutting-edge industries. By focusing on themes with long-term growth potential, thematic indexes allow investors to align their portfolios with key megatrends, providing opportunities to benefit from the forces driving innovation and global economic change.

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Quantitative Indexes

These indexes leverage advanced quantitative models, including factor-based investing strategies, to deliver consistent, rules-based performance. Whether focused on factors like value, momentum, or low volatility, Nasdaq’s quantitative indexes provide a systematic approach to designing methodologies that can capture market inefficiencies and potentially deliver enhanced returns for investors.

Harness Quantitative Insights
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Nasdaq Beta Indexes

Designed with a transparent, rules-based methodology, these indexes allow investors to tailor portfolios to specific risk and return objectives, optimizing performance while managing risk. Whether aiming to capture market momentum or focusing on value stocks, Nasdaq Beta Indexes provide a systematic way to enhance investment strategies.

Elevate Your Portfolio with Nasdaq Beta Indexes
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Nasdaq Dorsey Wright

Utilizing proprietary methodologies that rank securities based on their price performance, Nasdaq Dorsey Wright identifies and capitalizes on market leadership trends. Beyond offering indexes, they provide comprehensive research services that equip asset managers and financial advisors with strategic insights to enhance their investment portfolios.

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Nasdaq Global Indexes Use Cases

Benchmarking Portfolio Performance

Use Case: An asset manager is looking to benchmark the performance of their portfolio against a relevant index. They choose the Nasdaq-100 Index® due to its focus on large-cap technology and growth-oriented companies, which closely aligns with their investment strategy.

Outcome: The asset manager has a reference point to assess their portfolio's performance relative to the market, helping them make informed decisions about rebalancing or adjusting their investment strategy.

: Use Case: An asset manager is looking to benchmark the performance of their portfolio against a relevant index. They choose the Nasdaq-100 Index® due to its focus on large-cap technology and growth-oriented companies, which closely aligns with their investment strategy.
Outcome: The asset manager has a reference point to assess their portfolio's performance relative to the market, helping them make informed decisions about rebalancing or adjusting their investment strategy.

Developing Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs)

Use Case: A financial institution is developing a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) and needs a reliable and well-recognized index to serve as the underlying benchmark. They select the Nasdaq Composite Index for its broad market coverage and strong brand recognition.

Outcome: The institution launches an ETF designed to attract investors due to its alignment with a well-known and trusted

: Use Case: A financial institution is developing a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) and needs a reliable and well-recognized index to serve as the underlying benchmark. They select the Nasdaq Composite Index for its broad market coverage and strong brand recognition.
Outcome: The institution launches an ETF designed to attract investors due to its alignment with a well-known and trusted

Nasdaq Global Indexes Developing Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs)

Creating Thematic Investment Strategies

Use Case: An asset manager wants to create a thematic investment strategy focused on clean energy. They leverage Nasdaq’s Thematic Indexes that target the clean energy sector to build a product that appeals to environmentally conscious investors.

Outcome: The manager is able to launch a specialized investment product that captures the growing demand for sustainable and socially responsible investment options.

: Use Case: An asset manager wants to create a thematic investment strategy focused on clean energy. They leverage Nasdaq’s Thematic Indexes that target the clean energy sector to build a product that appeals to environmentally conscious investors.
Outcome: The manager is able to launch a specialized investment product that captures the growing demand for sustainable and socially responsible investment options.

The use cases and outcomes described herein are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation, endorsement, or promotion of any investment strategy. Past performance is not an indicator of future results. Actual outcomes may vary.

Nasdaq Global Indexes FAQs

: The Nasdaq Global Index family encompasses a diverse range of indexes designed to track various asset classes, sectors, and geographies. These indexes include well-known benchmarks like the Nasdaq-100®, as well as thematic, quantitative, and custom indexes tailored to meet specific investment needs. The Nasdaq Global Index family serves as a comprehensive toolkit for investors looking to track market performance, create investment products, or benchmark their portfolios.
: The Nasdaq Capital Market and Nasdaq Global Market are two of the three tiers within the Nasdaq Stock Market, differentiated by the size and financial strength of the companies listed. The Nasdaq Capital Market is for smaller, growth-oriented companies that meet specific financial and liquidity requirements. The Nasdaq Global Market, on the other hand, lists mid-sized companies that meet higher financial and liquidity standards compared to the Capital Market, but lower than those required for the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
: Yes, Nasdaq OMX was the name of the company after its merger with OMX, a Nordic exchange group, in 2008. However, the company has since rebranded back to Nasdaq, Inc. The rebranding reflects the company’s broadening scope beyond traditional exchange services to include data, technology, and global financial services.
: SPX is the ticker symbol for the S&P 500 Index, which tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S. companies across various industries. NDX® is the ticker symbol for the Nasdaq-100 Index®, which tracks the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. While SPX is broader and more diversified across different sectors, NDX has a heavier concentration in technology and innovation-driven companies, making it more tech-centric.
: Nasdaq is a global electronic marketplace for buying and selling securities, as well as a technology provider for other exchanges. "NDAQ" is the ticker symbol for Nasdaq, Inc., the company that operates the Nasdaq stock exchange and other financial services. When people refer to "Nasdaq," they are usually talking about the stock exchange, while "NDAQ" refers to the publicly traded shares of Nasdaq, Inc.
: QQQ is the ticker symbol for the Invesco QQQ Trust, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. By purchasing shares of QQQ, investors can gain exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. QQQ is one of the most popular ETFs in the world, known for its liquidity and representation of growth-oriented companies.
: The Nasdaq refers to the Nasdaq Stock Market, which lists over 3,000 companies across various sectors. The Nasdaq-100, on the other hand, is a specific index that tracks the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nasdaq-100 is known for its focus on technology and innovation-driven companies, making it a key benchmark for growth-oriented investors.