The Hang Seng Index is the benchmark stock index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), and is used to measure overall market performance in Hong Kong. The index includes the companies in the Hang Seng Composite Index and some additional stocks, and is weighted according to the stocks market capitalizations.
The Hang Seng Index was first created in 1969 by the Hang Seng Bank and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong to provide a way to measure the performance of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Initially, the index was a compilation of the top 30 most actively traded stocks on the exchange, but it has since grown to include more than 50 stocks. The index is weighted according to the market capitalization of the stocks and is designed to be a leading indicator of the overall performance of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The index is seen as an important indicator of the Hong Kong economy and the overall financial health of the Hong Kong region. It can be useful for traders to gauge the performance of the stock market over time and to compare it to other regions and markets. The index can also be used for portfolio diversification and for making investment decisions in Hong Kong stocks.
The Hang Seng Index is highly volatile and can be prone to wide swings in both directions. The indexs largest yearly increase came in 2007, when it reached its all time high of 35,749. However, it experienced a dramatic fall in 2008 due to the global financial crisis. Since then, it has recovered and is now trading near its all-time high.
Despite the volatility, the Hang Seng Index has provided strong returns over the past few years. In 2015, it returned 9.7%, outpacing other major global indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (7.2%) and the S&P 500 (9.6%).
The Hang Seng Index also serves to measure and report the performance of the mainland Chinese markets. This index is often used to compare the performance of the stocks between companies in the mainland and companies in the Hong Kong markets.
Overall, the Hang Seng Index is an important part of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and provides traders with an effective way to measure market performance. It is also one of the more volatile indices available and as such, it can provide an excellent opportunity for investors to diversify their portfolios and take advantage of the market swings.