Nasdaq profit surges 76% on non-trading business strength

A security officer stands guard outside the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York's Times Square. Credit: Reuters

Exchange operator Nasdaq Inc reported a 76 per cent surge in third-quarter profit on Wednesday, boosted by strength in its non-trading businesses and a surge in trading volumes.

Net income attributable to the company rose to $264 million, or $1.58 per share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, from $150 million, or 90 cents per share, a year earlier.

Revenue from information services, Nasdaq's biggest non-trading business, rose 20% to $238 million.

Higher trading volumes helped boost the company's market services unit, its biggest business. Revenue in the segment jumped about 39% to $958 million.

Excluding transaction-based expenses, revenue rose 13 per cent to $715 million.