S&P/ASX 200

The S&P/ASX 200 index is a market-capitalization weighted and float-adjusted stock market index of Australian stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange from Standard & Poor's. It was started on 31 March 2000 with a value of 3133.3,[1] equal to the value of the All Ordinaries at that date.

The ASX 200 reached 6,000 points for the first time on Thursday 15 February 2007.[2]

Calculations

The ASX 200 is capitalization-weighted, meaning a company's contribution to the index is relative to its total market value i.e. share price multiplied by the number of tradeable shares. The ASX 200 is also float adjusted, meaning the absolute numerical contribution to the index is relative to the stock's value at the float of the stock.[3]

Although the calculation starts with a sum of the market capitalisation of the constituent stocks, it's intended to reflect changes in share price, NOT market capitalisation. Therefore a fudge factor called the "Divisor" is used to ensure that the index value only changes when stock prices change, not whenever market capitalisation changes. For example, if a company increases its market capitalisation by issuing new shares, the Divisor is adjusted so that the ASX 200 index value does not change.

Eligibility

To be eligible for inclusion in the ASX 200 Index:[4]

Constituent companies

The number of shares in the index is highly dynamic and does not always revert to 200. On average, the index is rebalanced every quarter by Standard & Poors.:[5]

See also

References

  1. "Aussie market breaks 5000 point barrier". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. March 20, 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  2. Burrow, Vanessa (16 February 2007). "Three cheers for the mighty 6000 as the record keeps on playing". The Age. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  3. "Index Mathematics Methodology" (PDF). Standard & Poor's. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  4. ASX 200 eligbility rules via Wikinvest
  5. "S&P/ASX200". Standard & Poors.

External links

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