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S&P/ASX 200 index and its function

S&P/ASX 200 index
S&P/ASX 200 is a benchmark stock index on the Australian financial markets. It was made up for investors who held Australian securities and needed a reasonably large and liquid portfolio for comparing their investment performance. The index is traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol XJO. 

The S&P/ASX 200 index consists of the ASX S&P 100 index and another 100 stocks. ASX mini futures 200 contracts are also based on this index. There is also an exchange-traded fund that invests and monitors this index, in cooperation with futures contracts that are traded with the index as the underlying asset.

The ASX 200 index has been calculated since 2000. The initial value was taken as the current value of Australia's oldest index - All Ordinaries (All Ords, AOI) - 3133.

Contents
  1. What is behind the ASX 200 list?
  2. Australia Stock Exchange
  3. How to try to gain on the ASX 200 index?
  4. List of the top 10  biggest Australian companies
  5. Does ASX trade on weekends?
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQ section: Trade the ASX 200 Index CFD

What is behind the ASX 200 list?

The market capitalization of the companies that draw out this index ranges from $ 380 million to over $ 100 billion. Their total amount is approximately 82% of the capitalization of the Australian stock market. All companies are liquid and eligible for institutional investment.

Australia Stock Exchange

The exchange is the base of global technology and finance companies. The derivatives market totals $ 47 trillion, which gives the Australian Exchange the right to be considered the largest in Asia and one of the largest in the world. The market capitalization measured stock market index composed of stocks of companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Australian Stock Exchange is one of the 15 largest stock exchanges and has an average daily trading turnover of $ 4,685 billion. The index includes only shares traded on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Since the absolute value of the index is dependent on the value of the stock, the ASX 200 is a market capitalization-weighted index. The shares of the companies that are composed of the ASX 200 index are very dynamic, but their number is not always 200. The index is reconsidered quarterly by the American financial company Standard & Poor’s. The index is calculated using the "divider method", due to which a growth in the market capitalization of any company included in the index does not cause a change in the value of the ASX 200 index.

How to try to gain on the ASX 200 index?

As far as the ASX 200 index reflects the situation for the largest Australian companies in various industries, it makes it a good indicator of the country's investment climate. Besides, trading the index, investors have a possibility to increase capital. This can be done in several ways.

For example, an investor can provide capital in an ETF fund whose structure takes a pattern of the composition of a stock index. This requires fewer funds than compiling an identical portfolio itself. Another way is to buy index futures. A futures contract is settled through cash settlement. Participants in an index futures transaction commit to pay or receive the difference between the transaction price and the contract execution price.

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What affects ASX 200 efficiency?

Industrial stock indices are necessary in order to create assumptions about the dynamics of price movements of different companies in the same industry, which were not even included in the index itself. Such indices help investors assess the prospects for investments in companies in a particular sector of the economy at a certain point in time.

Various internal and external factors influence the ASX 200 index worth. The ASX 200 is upmost by financial and commodity companies, and the dynamics of the respective markets has a significant impact on the index. The first 4 of the 5 largest companies to consist of the ASX are financial enterprises, and changes in the stock price of any of these companies or trends in the financial sector as a whole will have implications for the entire index.

List of the top 10  biggest Australian companies

  1. CSL Ltd is a global biotechnology company that performs researching, developing, manufacturing, and markets products for the treatment and prevention of serious human diseases. CSL's activity includes vaccines, downstream products for blood plasma, antivenoms, and cell chemical enhancement supplies used in a variety of medical and genetic research and manufacturing applications.
  1. Commonwealth Bank of Australia is the largest Australian financial conglomerate with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Asia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It is running into in the "big four" banks in Australia.
  1. BHP Group Ltd (BHP) is the world's leading resource company that produces and re-engineering’s minerals, oil, and gas. The overall number of the company’s contractors and employees reach 72 thousand. The global headquarters are located in Melbourne, Australia. The company's products are sold all over the world.
  1. Westpac Banking Corporation is a corporation, which operates as a large financial institution. The company provides banking services in Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the leading banks in Australia, a member of the Big Four, and the second-largest bank in New Zealand.
  1. National Australia Bank Ltd or NAB is a financial services company whose principal branch of activity is focused on banking, international banking, investment banking, asset management services, fiduciary, and nominee services. The company employs about 35 thousand people. The company has filiations in Asia, the US, and the UK and is headquartered in Docklands, Victoria.
  1. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd is an Australian iron ore mining company. The company is the fourth largest iron ore manufacturing company in the world. Fortescue Metals Group produces over 165 million tons of iron ore annually.
  1. Wesfarmers Ltd is an Australian firm headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. The company's areas of activity are Australian and New Zealand retail, chemical products, fertilizers, coal mining, industrial goods. Moreover, Wesfarmers is Australia's largest private employer, employing approximately 220 thousand people. Wesfarmers was founded in 1914 as a cooperative to provide services and goods to farmers in Western Australia, and in 1984 it was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and developed into a large retail conglomerate.
  1. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd is an international bank dealing with installment loans, general banking, mortgage and life insurance, leasing, installment purchases, and general financing. ANZ also provides global and investment banking, investment, and portfolio management services, as well as advisory services, nominee and custodian services, brokerage services, and executor and trustee services.
  1. Woolworths Group Ltd is an Australian retail group carrying on business in the supermarket, department store, home improvement, gasoline, and hotel fields. Woolworths is one of Australia's most well-known brands. The Woolworths Group includes some other well-known names such as BIG W, BWS, and Dan Murphy's. Founded in 1924, Woolworths was first listed on the stock exchange in 1993. The group is now one of the largest listed companies on the ASX. Woolworths is often referred to as defensive stocks because the Woolworths share price has a potential buffer against the downturn given the nature of its core business. Indeed, even during an economic downturn, demand for food, toiletries, and other necessities remains.
  1. Macquarie Group Ltd is a global provider of banking, finance, advisory, investment, and fund management services. The company is headquartered in Sydney. Macquarie is Australia's fifth-largest bank by market capitalization and also one of the largest ASX traders. However, its retail banking accounts for only a small percentage of Macquarie's business. The bank is mainly engaged in investments and commercial banking operations and assets. Macquarie is currently ranked among the 50 largest global asset managers. 

Does ASX trade on weekends?

The Australia Stock Exchange is not open on weekends. Stock Exchanges in America, Europe, and Asia follow the typical Monday to Friday schedule. However, in the Middle East, the work week typically runs from Sunday through Thursday.

Conclusion

Indices trading is a popular choice to trade on the Australia Stock Exchange. With Investlite you can trade by CFDs in Indices. Our site can offer you to choose the index of any ASX 200 list company. We provide traders with great opportunities to deal with many assets, different platforms, spreads, and leverage levels.

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FAQ section: Trade the ASX 200 Index CFD

Are all public companies listed on the ASX?

Public companies can be listed or unlisted. Proprietary companies are always unlisted. If you are already running a business and the type of structure no longer suits, you can change your company type.

How does the ASX make money?

Companies that are listed on a stock exchange, such as the Australian Securities Exchange, to get profit by selling shares to investors who then have the chance to make a profit if the company performs well. Stock exchanges provide a market for people to buy and sell shares in the companies listed on them. 

What is the total value of the Australian stock market?

With a total market capitalization of around $2 trillion, ASX is home to some of the world's leading resource, finance, and technology companies.

What does the S&P/ASX 200 show?

The S&P/ASX 200 index covers about 80% of Australian equity market capitalization and is home to global mining giants such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, as well as large banks like Commonwealth Bank Australia and ANZ Banking Group.

How does the ASX work?

Australia Stock Exchange is a universal trading zone since performs the function of the stock, commodity futures and currency exchange, since December 2006, merged with the Sydney Futures Exchange.

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