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Stock market index

In a nutshell

A stock market index summarises movements in a group of securities using a defined calculation method.

On this page

Explained simply

Its movement does not mean every share moves the same way. It provides a benchmark for a market or a segment.

A practical example

Hypothetical example: an index rises from 200 to 210 points, a gain of 5%, even though some constituent shares may have fallen.

Further reading

Source: AMF — Stock market indices.

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What this means

The increase is 5%. It does not necessarily describe each share’s return.

Educational scenarios. Amounts and rates are fictional, not current market conditions.

Does a rising index mean all its shares rise?

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