Nasdaq, the second largest US stock exchange, recorded its highest number of initial public offering listings in the first three months of this year since the height of the dotcom boom in the first quarter of 2000. The news comes at an increasingly competitive time for US exchanges.

Nasdaq said it had 42 listings for initial public offerings in the quarter, and six of the 10 largest initial public offerings by proceeds. The tally includes the debut of National CineMedia, which raised $798m (€598m) in February.