Stock market indices - Statistics & Facts

Most countries all over the world have a stock exchange where both local and international companies are traded. A stock exchange facilitates the trading process and allows the prices of the listed companies to be defined by the laws of supply and demand. The number of traded companies usually ranges between a couple of hundred in less developed financial markets to as many as a couple of thousand in the mature markets. It would be a very time-consuming task to examine the performance of the leading companies in a given country in order to assess the stock market sentiment, not to mention to track the market performance on various global stock exchanges. That is why the stock indices prove to be so useful.

A stock market index measures the performance of a segment of the stock market. It is calculated based on the prices (and often market capitalization) of the companies which belong to the index.

Global indices are a benchmark of the international stocks performance. MSCI World, for example, consists of leading companies from developed countries all over the world.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average index (DJIA) is one of the oldest and most well known indices worldwide. In the beginning the index was composed of industrial stocks (hence the name), but today its constituents are thirty leading U.S. companies from various industry sectors.

In Europe, the most popular country indices are FTSE 100 (UK), CAC 40 (France) and DAX 30 (Germany). Also, the Euro Stoxx 50 index, composed of the Eurozone blue chips, is traced by global market participants.

In Asia, the main indices are, among others, Nikkei 225 (Japan) and the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite index (China).

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
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Year-end value of MSCI World USD index

1,883.90

Year-end value of S&P 500 index

2,508.85
Worldwide
Year-end value of MSCI World USD index 1,883.90 Year-end value of S&P Global Broad Market index 226.13 Year-end value of S&P Developed Broad Market index 423.87 Year-end value of S&P Emerging Broad Market index 252.60
North America
Year-end value of S&P 500 index 2,508.85 Year-end value of DJIA index 23327.46 Year-end value of NASDAQ 100 index 6,329.97
South America
Year-end value of Brazil Bovespa stock index 87,887 Year-end value of Merval Buenos Aires stock index 30,292.55
Europe
Year-end value of Euro Stoxx 50 index 3001.42 Year-end value of DAX index 10,558.96 Year-end value of CAC 40 index 5312.56 Year-end value of FTSE 100 index 6728.13
Asia
Year-end value of Nikkei 225 index 22,764.94 Year-end value of Hang Seng index (HKD) index 29,919.2

Stock market indices - Important statistics

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Stock market indices
  • Edited and prepared
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  • From $365
View dossier
Worldwide
Year-end value of MSCI World USD index 1,883.90 Year-end value of S&P Global Broad Market index 226.13 Year-end value of S&P Developed Broad Market index 423.87 Year-end value of S&P Emerging Broad Market index 252.60
North America
Year-end value of S&P 500 index 2,508.85 Year-end value of DJIA index 23327.46 Year-end value of NASDAQ 100 index 6,329.97
South America
Year-end value of Brazil Bovespa stock index 87,887 Year-end value of Merval Buenos Aires stock index 30,292.55
Europe
Year-end value of Euro Stoxx 50 index 3001.42 Year-end value of DAX index 10,558.96 Year-end value of CAC 40 index 5312.56 Year-end value of FTSE 100 index 6728.13
Asia
Year-end value of Nikkei 225 index 22,764.94 Year-end value of Hang Seng index (HKD) index 29,919.2

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