Our world markets watchlist tracks 9 outstanding indexes from economies around the globe. The checklist consists of the S&P 500 from the USA, TSX from Canada, the FTSE 100 from England, the DAXK from Germany, the CAC 40 from France, the Nikkei 225 from Japan, the Shanghai from China, the Hold Seng from Hong Kong, and the BSE SENSEX from India. For a have a look at how some rising markets throughout the globe stack up in opposition to one another, learn our emerging markets update.
Solely three of the 9 indexes on our world markets watch checklist posted year-to-date positive aspects by way of April 6, 2026. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is within the prime spot with a year-to-date acquire of 5.5% adopted by England’s FTSE 100 with a year-to-date acquire of 5.1% and Canada’s TSX with a year-to-date acquire of 4.6%. On the alternative finish, India’s BSE SENSEX is the index with the most important year-to-date loss, at the moment at -13.0%, adopted by Germany’s DAXK and the U.S.’s S&P 500 with year-to-date losses at the moment at -5.9% and -3.4%, respectively.
To supply further context on the place these indexes stand relative to their historic peaks, the desk under reveals every index’s present worth, all-time peak, the date of that peak, and the way far it’s from that report degree.
World Indexes and Latest Recessions
Let’s begin with a really latest chart with the newest recession. We’ve used February 3, 2020 for our begin date (that is the official NBER recession begin).
The chart under illustrates the comparative efficiency of world markets since March 9, 2009. The beginning date is bigoted: The S&P 500, TSX, CAC 40 and BSE SENSEX hit their lows on March ninth, the Nikkei 225 on March tenth, the DAXK on March sixth, the FTSE on March third, the Shanghai Composite on November 4, 2008, and the Hold Seng even earlier on October 27, 2008. Nonetheless, by aligning on the identical day and utilizing a log-scale vertical axis, we get a wonderful visualization of the relative efficiency. I’ve listed every of the eight to 800 on the March ninth begin date. The callout within the higher left nook reveals the % change from the beginning date to the newest weekly shut.
Right here is similar visualization, this time beginning on October 9, 2007, a earlier closing excessive for the S&P 500. This date can also be roughly the mid-point of the vary of market peaks, which began on June 1st for the CAC 40 and ended on January 8, 2008 for the SENSEX.
For an extended have a look at the relative efficiency, our remaining chart begins on the flip of the century, once more indexing every at 800 for the beginning date.
Be aware: I observe Germany’s DAXK a price-only index, as an alternative of the extra acquainted DAX index (which incorporates dividends), for consistency with the opposite indexes, which don’t embrace dividends.
