The China Securities 500 Index (CS500) is a stock market index which consists of 500 stocks chosen to represent the largest and most liquid companies listed on the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. The CS500 has become an important benchmark for investors, as its seen as a gauge of how Middle Kingdom markets are performing.
The CS500 was launched in December 2006, replacing the previous Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong indexes, with all three stock exchanges merged into the CS500 index, it weighted the national standard 500 stocks with larger market cap, larger volume and stronger liquidity.
Since its launch the CS500 has had slightly more volatility than some of its peers. In terms of gaining market share, the CS500 has been more successful; in the five years of its inception, its weighting of the CSI300 index (which tracks the 300 largest stocks on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges) has increased from 52.06% in 2009 to around 70% in 2014 .
The CS500 is updated quarterly and follows the same formula as other global stock market indices, which analyse and weight companies according to market capitalisation. According to the FTSE official site, the index has an official base date of 0000-12-31 (1 January 2006) and market capitalisation change determines the total number of shares. The index is designed to represent an aggregated performance of the blue-chip companies in the top 500 and is rebalanced every quarter on the basis of shareholder’s capital flows, size of companies and other factors.
In addition to its size, the CS500 has several advantages in comparison to other international indexes. Firstly, the CS500 has consistently outperformed the MSCI All-Country World Index, with average annual returns exceeding 11% since its 2004 launch and 16.7% since 2007 as of 2014. This outperformance is mainly due to the China-specific megatrends, such as urbanization and the rise of the middle class. Secondly, the sheer size of the Chinese economy and its diversified market structure make the index less prone to the volatility and sentiment swings seen in other global indices. Finally, the stocks in the index are more diversified across sectors, meaning that investors can have access to a wider range of opportunities.
The CS500 may not always be a good bet for investors, however. It’s worth noting that the index has not yet been tested in a major global bear market. Since the index rose from its launch to the maximum during 2009, the Chinese market has not experienced its first true test yet. And with the Chinese markets being closely evaluated by the government, political and social unrest could have a significant impact on the index in the future.
In conclusion, the CN500 index is a popular tool for evaluating the health of the Chinese stock market, as well as providing access to a diverse range of companies and sectors within the domestic market. Despite its success so far, investors must bear in mind the risks associated with being heavily reliant on a single market. As with any index, investors should consider the CS500 as part of a diversified portfolio which should include a mix of different markets and asset classes.