To put it simply, a stock exchange is a platform where stocks are traded. In these regulated capital markets, investors buy and sell stock in publicly traded companies—which in turn, makes it possible for companies to raise capital from the public and fund their operations.
The Nasdaq exchange, owned and operated by Nasdaq, Inc., is no different. It’s the leading U.S. exchange for health care, consumer, and technology initial public offerings (IPOs), welcoming 60 IPOs in the first half of this year alone and raising close to $4 billion.
