AEX index

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AEX-Index
Foundation 1983
Operator Euronext
Exchanges Euronext Amsterdam
Constituents up to 25
Type Large cap
Market cap €528.1 billion (2007)[1]
Weighting
method
Market value-weighted
Related 
indices
AMX index, AScX index
Website www.nyse.com/aex

The AEX index, derived from Amsterdam Exchange index, is a stock market index composed of Dutch companies that trade on Euronext Amsterdam, formerly known as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Started in 1983, the index is composed of a maximum of 25 of the most actively traded securities on the exchange. It is one of the main national indices of the pan-European stock exchange group Euronext alongside Brussels' BEL20, Paris's CAC 40 and Lisbon's PSI-20.

Contents

[edit] History

Price evolution of the AEX index between October 1992 and November 2007.
Price evolution of the AEX index between October 1992 and November 2007.

The AEX started from a base level of 100 index points on 3 January 1983 (a corresponding value of 45.378 is used for historic comparisons due to the adoption of the Euro).[2] The index's peak to date is 703.18, reached on 5 September 2000 at the height of the dot-com bubble.[3] The index value more than halved over the following three years before recovering in line with most global financial markets.

[edit] Rules

[edit] Selection

As of 2008, the AEX index composition is reviewed twice a year on March 1 and September 1 based on the closing prices on the final trading days of January and June.[4] Previously, index changes were made only annually in March. Any changes made are effected on the following trading day.[5]

At the main March review date, the 25 companies with the highest share turnover (in Euros) over the previous year deemed to be "representative of the Dutch equity market" are admitted to the index.[6] Companies which have fewer than 25% of shares considered free float on Euronext Amsterdam and a free-float market capitalisation ranked lower than 25th are, however, ineligible for inclusion.[6] Unlike some other European benchmark equity indices (such as the OMXS30), if a company has more than one class of shares traded on the exchange, only the most actively traded of these will be accepted into the AEX.[6] If a company or companies are removed from the index due to delisting, acquisition or another reason, no replacements are made until the next review date.[6]

At the September interim review (based on the data of the last day of June), no changes are made to the AEX unless either the index has seen one or more constituents removed, or a non-constituent possesses an share turnover ranked 15th or higher overall over the previous year (e.g. July 2007 - June 2008).[4] If vacancies are to be filled, the highest-ranking non-AEX companies are selected to join the index.[4]

[edit] Weighting

The AEX is a market value-weighted index. At each main annual review, the index weightings of companies in the index are capped at 15%,[5] but range freely with share price subsequently. The index weights are calculated with respect to the closing prices of the relevant companies on March 1. At the interim review in September, weightings after adjustment are left as close as possible to those of the previous day and are not re-capped.[6]

[edit] Calculation

The index comprises a basket of shares, the numbers of which are based on the constituent weights and index value at the time of readjustment. The value of the index is calculated by multiplying the price (in Euros) of each of the stocks by the number of shares that stock in the basket, then summing the resulting numbers and dividing by 100.[6]

[edit] Composition

The 23 stocks below constitute the index as of the removal of Vedior due to pending acquisition on 14 May 2008.[7]

Branch of Fortis bank in Delft.
Branch of Fortis bank in Delft.
ING corporate HQ in the Zuidas.
ING corporate HQ in the Zuidas.
The TomTom One in-car navigation system.
The TomTom One in-car navigation system.
Company ICB Sector Ticker symbol Index weighting (%)1
Aegon life insurance AGN 3.84
Ahold food retailers and wholesalers AH 2.69
Akzo Nobel specialty chemicals AKZA 3.43
ArcelorMittal steel MT 15.78
ASML semiconductors ASML 1.87
Corio real estate holding and development CORA 0.67
Corporate Express industrial suppliers CXP 0.34
DSM specialty chemicals DSM 1.11
Fortis banks FORA 8.58
Heineken brewers HEIA 2.21
ING Group life insurance INGA 12.79
KPN fixed line telecommunications KPN 4.99
Philips consumer electronics PHIA 6.47
Randstad Holding business training and employment agencies RAND 0.92
Reed Elsevier publishing REN 1.91
Royal Dutch Shell integrated oil and gas RDSA 15.54
SBM Offshore oil equipment and services SBMO 0.84
Tele Atlas publishing TA 0.46
TNT delivery services TNT 2.19
TomTom telecommunications equipment TOM2 0.38
Unibail-Rodamco real estate investment trusts ULA 3.16
Unilever food products UNA 8.54
Wolters Kluwer publishing WKL 1.31

Note 1: - Weightings accurate at close of trade on 13 May 2008.

[edit] References

  1. ^ This is the actual total free-float market cap of the AEX constituents. Because the index uses a basket model which does not include the total number of shares, the market cap of the index per se is significantly less than this. Euronext Amsterdam - Cash Market full monthly statistics report: December 2007. Euronext. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  2. ^ Amsterdam AEX Stock Index. Global Financial Data. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  3. ^ "AEX Index Breaks Through Magic 500 Threshold", NIS News, 3 January 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-02. 
  4. ^ a b c Announcement Rules Change AEX-index®, AMX-index® and AScX-index® - Introduction of Interim Review and Revised Eligibility Rule. Euronext (effective June 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  5. ^ a b AEX-Index profile. Euronext. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Rules for the AEX-Index. Euronext (effective June 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  7. ^ "Vedior to be removed from AEX index from May 14", AFX News, Forbes, 13 May 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-14. 

[edit] See also

AMX index, the market index of the next 25 largest funds on Euronext Amsterdam.

[edit] External links