Nasdaq and Microsoft have joined forces, with the exchange operator set to provide the technology giant with real-time market data for US equity markets.
In a statement published on its website, Nasdaq said the partnership aimed to bolster financial education services available to the public and strengthen the capabilities of individual investors and traders.
The partnership means that people will be able to access equity prices through a number of different Microsoft services, including Excel, Bing, and MSN.
“At Microsoft, our mission is to enable every person to achieve more,” said Rob Howard, senior director, Microsoft.
“Pulling real-time and historical U.S. equity data from Nasdaq right into Excel helps users track personal investments better and make informed decisions faster.”
Bringing Exchange prices and products to main street
For Excel’s 1.2 billion users, or at least those with an interest in finance, this is exciting news.
Microsoft added a ‘Stocks’ feature to its spreadsheet product last year. Along with Nasdaq, data provider Refinitiv also provides market data for this particular service.
Once in Excel, users can use the various features that the spreadsheet service has to play around with stock prices in a manner that suits their needs.
“Expanding the reach of real-time market data through our collaboration with Microsoft is a significant step towards bringing important market information to Main Street,” said Oliver Albers, senior vice president and head of strategic partnerships for Nasdaq’s Global Information Services.
“Microsoft’s focus on empowering individuals aligns with our mission to make financial markets more accessible to all.”
