The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. has launched its new trading system for Nasdaq Europe.

The European trading system, which started operating today, offers similar functionality to the current Nasdaq trading system, but is adapted to the regional needs of the European market.

The firm also announced the addition of eight market participants as investors in Nasdaq Europe S.A. Bernard L Madoff, BNP Paribas, CSFB, Fortis Bank, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, and Santander Central Hispano Investment have all agreed to become investors in the new European stock exchange. Further key investors are expected to join this group.

Nasdaq says the involvement of these companies “represents a significant step in the development of Nasdaq Europe as it works to build liquidity and market share”.

Jim Weber, chief operating officer of Nasdaq Europe, said, “Nasdaq Europe is taking shape extremely quickly. U.S. equities can now be traded in European trading hours; the new trading system is now live and today we welcome eight blue chip investors. These eight highly regarded institutions share our vision of global equity trading and we look forward to working with them over the coming months as Nasdaq Europe builds market share and liquidity.”