The Nasdaq-100 index was launched on January 31st, 1985, and has become one of the world’s most widely followed indexes. While the Nasdaq-100 is home to some of the most well-known names in technology— including Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), Intel, and Facebook—the index also includes category-defining companies on the forefront of innovation in other key industries such as Amgen, Starbucks, and Tesla.
Since the introduction of index options in 1994, a wide assortment of financial products that track the Nasdaq-100 have been made available to investors. There are now products tied to the Nasdaq-100 from 28 countries and over $60 billion of investments in exchange-traded products are tied to the index. In total, the notional value of all financial instruments that follow the index exceeds $1 trillion.
It is important not to confuse the Nasdaq-100 with the Nasdaq Composite index. The Nasdaq Composite index was launched together with the Nasdaq Stock Market in February 1971 and is made up of all Nasdaq-listed common stocks. However, it is the Nasdaq-100 that has become the basis for investable products.
Download the full Nasdaq-100 white paper here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
