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European Equity Indexes

CAC 40, DAX, Eurofirst 300, IBEX 35, Swiss Market Index, and WIG index terms.

European Equity Indexes terms explain how benchmarks, market gauges, weighting rules, index families, data series, and market-cycle labels are used in investment analysis.

Use this branch when benchmark selection, index membership, weighting, float adjustment, publication source, region, sector, or dividend treatment changes the comparison being made.

Key Terms in This Branch

TermUse it for
CAC 40Benchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.
DAXBenchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.
FTSEurofirst 300 IndexBenchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.
IBEX 35Benchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.
Swiss Market Index (SMI)Benchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.
WIG IndexBenchmark construction, regional equity index, weighting, market-cycle, sentiment, commodity, freight, or index-publication terms.

What to Check

Check the index provider, universe, eligibility rule, weighting method, float adjustment, rebalancing schedule, currency, dividend treatment, data date, and whether the index is investable or only a benchmark.

Common Mistakes

  • Treating an index as a recommendation or as a directly owned portfolio.
  • Comparing index returns without checking currency, dividends, fees, and time period.
  • Ignoring methodology changes, reconstitution, concentration, and float adjustments.
  • Using a regional or sector index as a broad-market benchmark without checking its universe.

Indexes are benchmarks and data tools, not personalized investment recommendations or performance promises.

In this section

Choose a subsection first. Deeper term pages live inside each subsection, which keeps large topic hubs readable.

CAC 40

The CAC 40 is a benchmark French equity index tracking 40 large and actively traded companies listed in Paris.

DAX

The DAX, or Deutscher Aktienindex, is a stock market index that represents 30 of the largest and most liquid companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

FTSEurofirst 300 Index

The FTSEurofirst 300 Index tracks large European equities and is used as a broad Europe stock-market benchmark.

IBEX 35

The IBEX 35 is the benchmark stock market index for the Madrid Stock Exchange, representing the performance of the top 35 companies listed on this exchange.

Swiss Market Index (SMI)

The Swiss Market Index is Switzerland's blue-chip equity benchmark for leading companies listed on SIX Swiss Exchange.

WIG Index

The WIG Index is a Warsaw Stock Exchange benchmark used to track broad Polish equity market performance.

Revised on Sunday, June 21, 2026