ShieldPUBLIC INFORMATION / SOURCE FIRST
Global stock indices explained: compare the same return
An index level summarizes a defined market basket. To compare markets, start with the percentage move and observation date rather than the size of the index number.
Points and percentage changes answer different questions
In a hypothetical example, a 100-point rise from 5,000 is 2%, while a 100-point rise from 20,000 is 0.5%. The point gains are equal; the proportional moves are not. Different index base levels make their raw numbers poor measures of relative market size.
Check what the benchmark represents
Indices can cover different countries, company sizes, sectors or strategies. Read the official methodology before treating two benchmarks as substitutes. An index measures a defined basket; an index-linked investment product is a separate product.
Use one window in the market view
- Open Global indices on the market page.
- Select one return period for the comparison.
- Check each row’s source observation, especially when markets are in different time zones.
- Open the source when you need the benchmark’s precise definition or calculation basis.
A refreshed page can contain different observation dates
A market may be open while another is closed for a local holiday. Shield’s view-check time tells you when the website checked the data; each series has its own observation time. A blank or stale row should stay visible as a coverage limit rather than being silently filled with a fabricated move.
Carry the same checks into historical comparisons
When moving to the crisis-history tool, confirm the available series and selected event window again. A chart rebased to 100 compares relative paths from an anchor; it does not make the underlying markets identical. Read the historical calculation guide before interpreting a drawdown or recovery.
For source timing and quote coverage, see Shield’s methodology. For a benchmark linked to funds, see fund indices and fund products.
Sources and reading
This guide explains public information and Shield’s interface. It does not predict prices or provide personalized investment recommendations. Editorial standards · Report a correction