Nasdaq profit jumps on higher trading volumes, Dorsey Wright deal

[NEW YORK CITY] Transatlantic exchange operator Nasdaq Inc reported a 12 per cent jump in quarterly profit, helped by the acquisition of data analytics firm Dorsey Wright and higher equity trading volumes.

Net income attributable to Nasdaq was US$138 million, or 80 US cents per diluted share in the third-quarter ended Sept 30, up from US$123 million, or 71 US cents per share, a year earlier.

The company earned 88 US cents per diluted share, excluding one-time items such as restructuring charges and currency headwinds, Nasdaq said on Thursday.

Analysts on average had estimated earnings of 86 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue, excluding transaction related expenses, rose 6.4 per cent to US$529 million as concerns about an economic slowdown in China made for volatile markets that pushed equities trading volumes higher.

Net revenue from market services rose 5.8 per cent to US$200 million, boosted by strong cash equity trading volumes.

Information services revenue, which includes market data and index licensing and services, rose 15.8 per cent to US$132 million, helped by the acquisition of data analytics firm Dorsey Wright in Jan 2015.

Nasdaq also said on Thursday its Nasdaq Private Market LLC unit had bought equity management firm SecondMarket Solutions Inc for an undisclosed amount.

REUTERS