The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. (NASDAQ) announced on Monday it will introduce the NASDAQ Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Market, a market segment designed specifically for ETFs and Index Linked Notes (ILNs).
The NASDAQ ETF Market will allow the traditional floor-based specialist, who has historically provided initial liquidity to newETFs, to play a similar role by placing two-side quotes in the NASDAQ Market Center, said the Nasdaq in a news release.
"The NASDAQ ETF Market will complement NASDAQ's existing strengths by assisting ETF sponsors during the incubation phase of new ETFs, providing the liquidity and visibility for these ETFs to grow into mature, accepted products," said NASDAQ Senior Vice President William O'Brien.
NASDAQ is designer and creator of some of the world's most popular ETFs, including Power Shares QQQ, the most heavily traded listed equity security in the United States and the most active ETF in the world.
In May 2007, with total ETF volume at 54.1 percent, NASDAQ captured more U.S. ETF market share than any other U.S. exchange.