Long Term Perspective

 

 

The Nasdaq Composite is a stock market index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market. It has over 3,000 components. This chart underscores the high volatility of this market – notice the wide range of year-over-year growth and decline. The Nasdaq composite is known for its focus on high tech companies but it also includes industrials, banks, insurance, transportation and biotechnology stocks. Historically, newer companies that were not able to meet requirements for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) were traded on Nasdaq. In recent years, some big names (e.g. Sun Microsystems) that could have listed on the NYSE have remained on Nasdaq.

 

The Nasdaq composite index in 2014 increased 13.4 percent after surging 38.3 percent in 2013.  The 10-year average for the Nasdaq for the latest year firmed to 10.7 percent from 10.2 percent in 2013.

 

Short Term Perspective

 

 

The Nasdaq added a healthy 17.4 percent in July when compared with a year ago after increasing 13.1 percent in June.

 

 

The index has increased four of seven months in 2015. In July, the Nasdaq added 2.8 percent after sliding 1.6 percent in June.