Market structure & regulation
What is Sensex?
Also called: S&P BSE Sensex
Hinglish mein padhein: Sensex kya hai?
The Sensex is BSE's benchmark index of 30 large, liquid companies, weighted by free-float market capitalisation.
It began in 1986 with a base value of 100 (1978-79). A rising Sensex means large Indian companies, on average, are gaining value.
Because it has only 30 stocks, a few heavyweights like large private banks and IT companies can move it significantly.
Related terms
- Nifty 50The Nifty 50 is NSE's flagship index of 50 large companies across sectors, weighted by free-float market capitalisation.
- Stock market indexAn index tracks the combined price movement of a chosen basket of stocks, giving one number for how that part of the market is doing.
- Free floatFree float is the part of a company's shares available for public trading, excluding promoter and other locked-in holdings.