US business and financial news channel CNBC on Monday released a free iPad app that gives users the access to live stock quotes from the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, during and after market hours.

Users can also watch CNBC video clips on the Apple tablet computer, including interviews and market updates via CNBC video-on-demand.

The real-time app, available from Apple app store in the US and UK, also provides news alerts provided by CNBC's editorial team.

A news ticker which can be customised to track industries or personal portfolios runs along the bottom of the app enabling users to catch latest news.

The news channel launched a free iPhone app for real-time market data in October 2009.