The NASDAQ-100 is an index comprising 100 of the largest companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, considered the second largest in the world after the New York Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalisation. The companies included in this index belong to various industry sectors such as technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, media and services. The NASDAQ-100 was first calculated by NASDAQ on 31 January 1985 and is a modified capitalisation-weighted index. This index has served as a benchmark for investors who want to know how the stock market works without financial institutions, as this index excludes them.