Background
A share price index is a statistical measure indicating the relative value of prices of shares in a given baseline period compared to the current period. These indexes play a pivotal role in gaugeing market trends and the overall economic health of various sectors.
Historical Context
Share price indexes have evolved since the creation of stock exchanges, with some of the earliest indexes dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Significant indexes like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Financial Times Stock Exchange were introduced to provide snapshots of market performance.
Definitions and Concepts
A share price index measures the performance of a selection of companies’ shares. These indexes differ based on:
- Range of industries they include.
- Methodology for calculating the index.
- Number of companies represented.
Major Analytical Frameworks
Classical Economics
Classical economics views share price indexes as indicators of wealth accretion through production efficiencies and capital accumulation.
Neoclassical Economics
Neoclassical economists utilize share price indexes to interpret rational market behavior and forecast security market expectations based on efficient market hypothesis.
Keynesian Economics
From a Keynesian perspective, share price indexes reflect aggregate demand and their fluctuations may necessitate economic stability interventions.
Marxian Economics
Marxian analysis might consider indexes as signals of capital value which highlight disparities and changes in surplus value.
Institutional Economics
This framework evaluates share price indexes within the context of institutional procedures and regulations impacting market behaviour and performance.
Behavioral Economics
Behavioral economists study how psychological factors influence investment decisions affecting share price indexes.
Post-Keynesian Economics
Post-Keynesians may critique or adjust traditional analyses of share prices with alternate accounts of investment and uncertainty principles.
Austrian Economics
Austrians perceive share price movements as reflections of individual time preferences and the market coordination of savings and investment.
Development Economics
Share price indexes in emerging markets can significantly differ and reflect broader economic development metrics.
Monetarism
Monetarists correlate changes in share price indexes strongly with monetary supply and inflation data.
Comparative Analysis
Comparison of share price indexes across different economies can reveal divergences in economic conditions, investor sentiment, and sectoral advantages. For instance:
- The *Dow Jones Index for industrial economies.
- The *Nikkei Index highlighting Japan’s specific economic sectors.
- The *Hang Seng Index reflecting Hong Kong’s financial and trade activities.
Case Studies
- The Dot-Com Bubble and NASDAQ’s rise and fall.
- The impact of the Global Financial Crisis on various share price indexes.
- Market recovery trajectories post-COVID-19 indicated by healthcare and tech company performances in respective indexes.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle
- Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefèvre
- Irrational Exuberance by Robert Shiller
Related Terms with Definitions
- Stock Market: A marketplace for buying and selling stocks.
- Dow Jones Index: An index representing 30 significant stocks traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ.
- Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Indexes: Metrics that indicate the performance of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- Nikkei Index: A stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Hang Seng Index: A stock market index used to record and monitor the daily changes of the largest companies in the Hong Kong stock market.
