Web NASDAQ.com


Frequently Asked Questions
Select the "key phrase" below for Frequently Asked Questions.

Getting Started

  1. How do I best use this site?
    The NASDAQ site is optimized for viewing with Netscape's Navigator 6.2 and higher, Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher, and AOL 6.0 and higher browsers. In some areas of the site, we are making use of Java applets, RealAudio, Microsoft Windows Media Player (formally NetShow) and Adobe's Acrobat Reader. We try not to overdo plug-in/application requirements, but have decided that the above mentioned technologies are essential to enhance the user's experience of this site.

    Our site layout has been optimized for 800 X 600 screen resolution, and we recommend you view the site at this resolution. Although any connection speed to the Internet will work, we recommend the use of a modem operating at a minimum of 56.6 bps. Higher speed modems will give you a more pleasant experience with download times.

    You may find that a particular special effect loads and displays somewhat slowly the first time. These effects will, however, be "cached" in your system for future use, and will load much faster next time.

    Tip: When printing pages with charts or graphs from the site, you should choose "landscape" orientation under page setup. For all other pages "portrait" orientation is fine.

  2. What types of technology are you using on your Web site?
    Several types. The Dell web servers are powered by Intel Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors running a Microsoft NT/IIS solution. The trading data for our site resides on servers running Sun Microsystems UNIX servers. We employ Cisco Systems' latest series routers and load balancing products, and MCI WorldCom provides our Internet connectivity. Our Portfolio Tracking, Major Indices Charts and Market Ticker. We attempt to minimize the need for plug-ins to use our site but do recommend you have access to Adobe's Acrobat Reader and either/or Microsoft's Media Player or RealNetworks' RealPlayer (G2).

  3. How do I follow individual stocks over a period of time on your Web site?
    Historical information on NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, and OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) stocks is available via the Quotes+ section. Enter the symbol of the stock you wish to view, choose Stock Chart, and then select the desired chart range from the drop down menue. Once you have selected the graph, you can click on the graph itself to receive the underlying tabular data or add a chart element for more detail. The following links provide samples of each chart element available:
    Historical Charting:

    You may also use our Portfolio Tracking application if you have a Java-enabled browser. You may want to bookmark these pages for future reference.

  4. What does NASDAQ stand for?
    If this question were asked in 1971, the answer would be that NASDAQ—then spelled with all capital letters—is an acronym standing for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. But this automated quotation system quickly matured far beyond its original quote-service roots, evolving into what it is today—a major world stock market. Indeed, what NASDAQ "stands for" is not nearly as relevant as what The NASDAQ Stock Market has become known for, namely pioneering screen-based technology and an abundance of growth companies.

  5. Licensing Information
    For information on licensing the Nasdaq-100 Index or other Nasdaq Indices, please contact nasdaqlicensing@nasdaq.com.

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Quote Information

  1. Where can I find stock quotes for NYSE, AMEX, and OTCBB-listed securities?
    Delayed quotes can be obtained by entering up to 10 symbols in the boxes on the Home page or Quotes+ area and clicking either the Quotes+ (quotes plus charting and other detailed information) or FlashQuotes (very fast quotes and last sale, net change and volume information) buttons.

  2. Where can I find quotes for mutual funds and options?
    Mutual fund and options quotations (delayed) are available via the Home page quote entry boxes or in the Quotes area by first selecting either "mutual funds" or "options" and then typing in the symbols.

  3. Where can I find stock quotes for non-U.S. companies trading in U.S. markets?
    Quotes for non-U.S. companies trading in the U.S. as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are available by clicking the Quotes+, FlashQuotes or Summary Quotes on the Home page, Quotes, and Global Markets areas of NASDAQ.com. A list of non-U.S. NASDAQ-listed companies can also be found under Listing Information.

  4. Can I find stock quotes for non-U.S. companies that DON’T trade in the U.S. on your site?
    Yes. Non-domestic stock quotes, news, charting and more are available in the Global Markets area of NASDAQ.com. While you can’t access every stock in every country, you can access quotes and additional information for stocks trading in over 15 countries.

  5. If I cannot find a company where can I look?
    Try searching our Symbol Look-Up (by company name or symbol). Other resources include Symbol Change list, and View All Securities for a Market.

  6. Where can I find warrants or preferred stocks?
    Try searching our Symbol Look-Up (by company name or symbol).

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Site and Market Data

  1. How frequently is news updated on this site?
    NASDAQ.com utilizes electronic feeds from various news providers; all stories are posted as soon as we receive them.

  2. What primary sources do you use for your news stories and how long are the stories available?
    We receive news from several electronic news feeds.
    They include:
    • BusinessWire - 30 Calendar Days
    • Dow Jones Business News (The Wall Street Journal/Barron's) - 30 Calendar Days
    • Market Wire - 90 Calendar Days
    • PRNewswire - 30 Calendar Days
    • PrimeZone Media - 90 Calendar Days

  3. How much lag is involved when accessing your delayed quotes?
    Trading information on NASDAQ and OTCBB companies is delayed at least 15 minutes. Trading information on NYSE and AMEX companies is delayed at least 20 minutes per those exchanges' rules. The Most Active section is delayed at least 15 minutes for NASDAQ and 20 minutes for AMEX and NYSE. The NASDAQ Indices and the Major Indices scrolling ticker are delayed at least 1 minute. Mutual Funds are updated at the end of each day.

  4. How does NASDAQ define the "Twenty Most Advanced" and "Twenty Most Declined" on the "Most Active" page?
    The Advanced/Declined information is based on the percentage increase/decrease in stock price of NASDAQ Global select and NASDAQ Global securities (does not include warrants and units). The tables contain only securities whose last sale price is greater than $2 and whose daily volume is greater than 3000 shares. The information is updated every minute. Most Active is available for:

    Consult our Glossary for additional definitions of financial terms.

  5. How often are the Intraday charts updated?
    The intraday charting service pulls the last sale and volume data for all NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, and OTCBB stocks from our data source every minute.

  6. How often do you update the Analyst Info?
    We receive a nightly feed from I/B/E/S International, Inc. for NASDAQ, AMEX, and NYSE securities.

  7. How often are Stock Reports updated?
    Stock reports are available for NASDAQ, AMEX, and NYSE-listed securities and are updated weekly from Thomson Financial Disclosure Inc, To view a stock report, select Quotes and key in a NASDAQ, AMEX, or NYSE-listed security symbol. select Quotes+ and then select Stock Report.

  8. Where can I find the requirements for a company to be listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market?
    The information is located in the About NASDAQ area (this link can be found at the bottom of each page). Click here for Listing Requirements or contact our Business Development Group.

  9. Where can I obtain a list of companies in each NASDAQ index?
    They are available in Market Activity. Once there, click Market Indices and then the index name from the table.

  10. Why is "Price" on the "This Week's Expected IPOs" table listed as a range?
    This field indicates the anticipated initial public offering price, as filed with the SEC.

  11. Why isn't the Earnings Per Share (EPS) information always the same in the fundamental area and the analyst information area?
    Our data vendor that provides information for the "Fundamental Area" takes the last four quarters of earnings reported by a company, and adds them up. The numbers they use are the fully diluted EPS; they use "as stated numbers" without including accounting changes. These numbers are adjusted for splits as needed. The EPS is sometimes called the Trailing Twelve Months by other vendors.

    Our data vendor for the "Analyst Info" area uses the EPS from continuing operations. However, in some cases, analysts may sometimes exclude amortization of intangibles and non-cash stock compensation charges in their calculations (this is usually referred to as cash EPS).

  12. Where can I find more background information on The NASDAQ Stock Maket?
    You can find current information in the About NASDAQ area. Related information can also be found on the FINRA website, at www.finra.org.

  13. What external hyper-links does your site have?
    We have as complete a list as possible of NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE and OTCBB-listed companies' Web sites. You can access a company's Web site by clicking on the company name anywhere you see it on our site (as long as the company name is in blue and underlined). You can also directly access a company's SEC filings under "Quotes+" and then "Real-Time Filings."

  14. Who provides the content found in NASDAQ's Moving the Market area?
    The content is created and provided completely by Briefing.com. More information can be found in the Briefing.com FAQ.

  15. How is the Unusual Volume page calculated?
    Stocks exhibiting unusual volume are the twenty stocks whose percentage of intraday volume has changed most compared to the 50 day moving average volume for the same intraday time period. Additionally the stock must also meet the following criteria:
    1. Nasdaq Stocks trading above $10/share
    2. Stocks must have a price change of $0.50 or greater.
    3. 50 day average volume greater than 60,000 shares/day
    4. Today's intraday volume greater than the 50 day moving average volume for the same intraday time period.
    5. Top Twenty stocks sorted by intraday % change in volume verses the 50 day average volume for the same intraday time period.

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Investor Protection

  1. How would I file an investment related complaint?
    We recommend that you file a complaint with FINRA Investor Complaint Center. Instructions are available on the FINRA Web site. FINRA also has an Office of Individual Investor Services which can offer assistance. Please refer to the Investor Services section of the FINRA Web site for background information on this department.

  2. How would I research a broker?
    FINRA provides The Public Disclosure Program (PDP) on the FINRA Web site. Investors can go on the Web site and look up various brokers or brokerage firms. The program provides basic administrative data and if there are disciplinary actions, the visitor is asked to file a request online so that the report is e-mailed back the visitor. The phone number of FINRA Regulation Public Disclosure is (800) 289-9999 or (301) 590-6500.

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