DAX explained

DAX
Foundation:1 July 1988
Operator:STOXX (Qontigo, Deutsche Börse)
Exchanges:Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Constituents:40 (expanded from 30 in 2021)
Cap Level:Large cap
Mcap:1,245 billion (7 May 2021)[1]
Weighting:Capitalization-weighted
Related:MDAX, SDAX, TecDAX, ÖkoDAX
Homepage:DAX homepage

The DAX (Deutscher Aktienindex (German stock index); pronounced as /de/) is a stock market index consisting of the 40 major German blue chip companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It is a total return index. Prices are taken from the Xetra trading venue. According to Deutsche Börse, the operator of Xetra, DAX measures the performance of the Prime Standard's 40 largest German companies in terms of order book volume and market capitalization.[2] DAX is the equivalent of the UK FTSE 100 and the US Dow Jones Industrial Average, and because of its small company selection it does not necessarily represent the vitality of the German economy as a whole.

The L-DAX Index is an indicator of the German benchmark DAX index's performance after the Xetra trading venue closes based on the floor trading at the Börse Frankfurt trading venue. The L-DAX Index basis is the "floor" trade (Parketthandel) at the Frankfurt stock exchange; it is computed daily between 09:00 and 17:45 Hours CET.[3] The L/E-DAX index (Late/Early DAX) is calculated from 17:55 to 22:00 CET and from 08:00 to 09:00 CET. The Eurex, a European electronic futures and options exchange based in Zürich, Switzerland with a subsidiary in Frankfurt, Germany, offers options (ODAX) and Futures (FDAX) on the DAX from 01:10 to 22:00 CET or from 02:10 to 22:00 CEST.[4]

The Base date for the DAX is 30 December 1987, and it was started from a base value of 1,000. The Xetra technology calculates the index every second since 1 January 2006.

On 24 Nov 2020, Deutsche Börse announced an expansion of the DAX from 30 to 40 members and a tightening of rules in response to the Wirecard accounting scandal.[5] The expansion occurred in the 3rd quarter of 2021.[6]

Versions

The DAX has two versions, called performance index and price index, depending on whether dividends are counted. The performance index, which measures total return, is the more commonly quoted, however the price index is more similar to commonly quoted indexes in other countries.

Contract Specifications

DAX futures are traded on the Deutsche Borse Indices & ETF exchange (DBIndex). The contract specifications for the DAX Combined Index (ticker symbol DAXA) are listed below:

Contract Specifications[7] !DAX Combined Index (DAXA) !
Exchange: DBIndex
Sector: Index
Tick Size: 0.01
Tick Value: 1 EUR
Big Point Value (BPV): 100
Denomination: EUR
Decimal Place: 2

Price history

On 16 March 2015, the performance index first closed above 12,000.[8] On 10 April 2015, the price index first closed above its closing high from 2000.

Record values

CategoryAll-time highs[9]
Closing 18,492.49 Thursday, 28 March 2024
Intraday 18,567.16 Tuesday, 2 April 2024

Annual returns

The following collapsible table shows the annual development of the DAX, calculated retroactively up to 1950.[10] [11]

YearClosing levelChange in Index
in Points
Change in Index
in %
1950 30.18 −2.42 −7.42
1951 65.01 34.83 115.41
1952 59.75 −5.26 −8.09
1953 74.09 14.34 24.00
1954 135.28 61.19 82.59
1955 148.81 13.53 10.00
1956 137.80 −11.01 −7.40
1957 144.97 7.17 5.20
1958 232.23 87.26 60.19
1959 417.79 185.56 79.90
1960 534.09 116.30 27.84
1961 489.79 −44.30 −8.29
1962 386.32 −103.47 −21.13
1963 438.95 52.63 13.62
1964 477.89 38.94 8.87
1965 422.36 −55.53 −11.62
1966 333.36 −89.00 −21.07
1967 503.22 169.86 50.95
1968 555.62 52.40 10.41
1969 622.38 66.76 12.02
1970 443.86 −178.52 −28.68
1971 473.46 29.60 6.67
1972 536.36 62.90 13.29
1973 403.88 −132.48 −24.70
1974 401.79 −2.09 −0.52
1975 563.25 161.46 40.19
1976 509.02 −54.23 −9.63
1977 549.34 40.32 7.92
1978 575.15 25.81 4.70
1979 497.79 −77.36 −13.45
1980 480.92 −16.87 −3.39
1981 490.39 9.47 1.97
1982 552.77 62.38 12.72
1983 773.95 221.18 40.01
1984 820.91 46.96 6.07
1985 1,366.23 545.32 66.43
1986 1,432.25 66.02 4.83
1987 1,000.00 −432.25 −30.18
1988 1,327.87 327.87 32.79
1989 1,790.37 462.50 34.83
1990 1,398.23 −392.14 −21.90
1991 1,577.98 179.75 12.86
1992 1,545.05 −32.93 −2.09
1993 2,266.68 721.63 46.71
1994 2,106.58 −160.10 −7.06
1995 2,253.88 147.30 6.99
1996 2,888.69 634.81 28.17
1997 4,249.69 1,361.00 47.11
1998 5,002.39 752.70 17.71
1999 6,958.14 1,955.75 39.10
2000 6,433.61 −524.53 −7.54
2001 5,160.10 −1,273.51 −19.79
2002 2,892.63 −2,267.47 −43.94
2003 3,965.16 1,072.53 37.08
2004 4,256.08 290.92 7.34
2005 5,408.26 1,152.18 27.07
2006 6,596.92 1,188.66 21.98
2007 8,067.32 1,470.40 22.29
2008 4,810.20 −3,257.12 −40.37
2009 5,957.43 1,147.23 23.85
2010 6,914.19 956.76 16.06
2011 5,898.35 −1,015.84 −14.69
2012 7,612.39 1,714.04 29.06
2013 9,552.16 1,939.77 24.77
2014 9,805.55 253.39 2.65
2015 10,743.01 937.46 9.56
2016 11,481.06 738.05 6.87
2017 12,917.64 1,436.58 12.51
2018 10,558.96 −2,358.68 −18.26
2019 13,249.01 2,690.05 25.48
2020 13,718.78 469.77 3.55
2021 15,884.86 2,166.08 15.79
2022 13,923.59 −1,961.27 −12.35
202316,751.642,828.0520.31

Components

Below is the list of companies which are a component of the DAX 40, as of 20 March 2023. The current stock prices and list of DAX companies are available from financial websites.[12] [13] The index weighting refers to the DAX performance index.[14]

LogoCompany Prime Standard Sector Ticker Index weighting (%)Employees Founded
AdidasApparel2.0 61,401 (2021) 1924
Aerospace & Defence6.0 126,495 (2021) 1970
AllianzFinancial Services 7.1 155,411 (2021) 1890
BASFChemicals3.5 111,047 (2021) 1865
BayerPharmaceuticals 4.8 99,637 (2021) 1863
BeiersdorfConsumer goods0.9 20,567 (2021)1882
BMWAutomotive2.5 118,909 (2021) 1916
BrenntagDistribution0.9 17,200 (2021)1874
CommerzbankFinancial Services 0.8 40,181 (2021) 1870
ContinentalAutomotive0.6 190,875 (2021) 1871
CovestroChemicals0.6 17,909 (2021) 2015
Daimler TruckAutomotive1.1 99,849 (2021)2021
Deutsche BankFinancial Services 1.6 82,969 (2021) 1870
Deutsche BörseFinancial Services2.7 10,200 (2021) 1992
Deutsche PostLogistics3.4 592,263 (2021) 1995
Deutsche TelekomTelecommunication 6.5 216,528 (2021) 1995
E.ONUtilities1.9 78,126 (2021) 2000
FreseniusHealthcare0.8 316,078 (2021) 1912
Hannover ReInsurance0.8 3,346 (2021)1966
Heidelberg MaterialsConstruction Materials 0.7 51,209 (2021)1874
HenkelConsumer Goods 0.9 52,450 (2021) 1876
Infineon TechnologiesTechnology3.9 50,280 (2021) 1999
Mercedes-Benz GroupAutomotive4.8 172,000 (2021) 1926
MerckPharmaceuticals1.8 8,081 (2021) 1668
MTU Aero EnginesAerospace & Defence1.0 10,833 (2022) 1934
Munich ReFinancial Services3.6 40,177 (2022) 1880
PorscheAutomotive1.1 36,996 (2021)1931
Porsche SEAutomotive0.6 882 (2021)2007
QiagenBiotech0.8 5,900 (2021)1984
RheinmetallAerospace & Defence25,486 (2022)1889
RWEUtilities2.2 18,246 (2021) 1898
SAPTechnology10.1 107,415 (2021) 1972
SartoriusMedical Technology0.8 18,832 (2021)1870
SiemensIndustrials 9.0 303,000 (2021) 1847
Siemens EnergyEnergy technology0.7 92,000 (2021) 2020
Siemens HealthineersMedical Equipment1.2 66,000 (2021) 2020
SymriseChemicals1.1 11,276 (2021)2003
Volkswagen GroupAutomotive2.4 672,800 (2021) 1937
VonoviaReal Estate 1.1 15,900 (2022) 2001
ZalandoE-Commerce0.7 17,000 (2021)2008

Weightings as of 23 March 2023[14]

Former DAX components

This table lists former DAX components and the companies which replaced them.

DateComponent excludedComponent includedReason for exclusion/ Comments
03.09.1990Feldmühle NobelMetallgesellschaftTakeover of Feldmühle Nobel by Stora Enso
Nixdorf GermanyPreussag (now TUI)Merged with Siemens to form Siemens-Nixdorf
18.09.1995Deutsche BabcockSAPReplaced by SAP because of lower market capitalisation
22.07.1996KaufhofMETROMerger of Kaufhof and Metro Cash & Carry
23.09.1996ContinentalMünchener RückContinental was added back to the DAX on 22 September 2003, though it was demoted again in 2008 and added back again in 2012
18.11.1996MetallgesellschaftDeutsche TelekomIPO of Deutsche Telekom
22.06.1998Bayerische Hypotheken-
und Wechselbank
AdidasMerger of Vereinsbank and Hypobank to form HypoVereinsbank
Bayerische VereinsbankHypoVereinsbank
21.12.1998Daimler-BenzDaimlerChrysler
(now Daimler)
Merger of Daimler-Benz with Chrysler
22.03.1999DegussaDegussa-HülsMerger of Degussa AG with Hüls AG and renaming to Degussa-Hüls AG
25.03.1999ThyssenThyssenKruppMerger of Thyssen and Krupp
20.09.1999HoechstFresenius Medical CareMerger of Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc with Aventis
14.02.2000MannesmannEpcosTakeover of Mannesmann by Vodafone
19.06.2000VebaE.ONMerger of Veba and Viag to form E.ON
VIAGInfineon
18.12.2000Degussa-HülsDegussaMerger of Degussa-Hüls AG and SKW Trostberg AG to new Degussa AG
19.03.2001KarstadtQuelleDeutsche PostIPO of Deutsche Post
23.07.2001Dresdner BankMLP Vz.Takeover of Dresdner Bank by Allianz
23.09.2002DegussaAltanaInadequate market capitalisation
23.12.2002EpcosDeutsche BörseFast-exit of Epcos, as Epcos' market capitalisation became inadequate.[15]
22.09.2003MLPContinentalInadequate free float and market capitalisation.
31.01.2005LanxessLanxess was spun off from Bayer, for calculating reasons added to the DAX as a temporary 31st component, and removed a day later. It was added to the DAX in 2012 and removed again in 2015.
01.02.2005Lanxess
19.12.2005HypoVereinsbankHypo Real EstateTakeover of HypoVereinsbank by UniCredit
18.09.2006ScheringPostbankTakeover of Schering by Bayer
18.06.2007AltanaMerckAfter the sale of Nycomed, inadequate market capitalisation[16]
22.09.2008TUIK+SFast-entry of K+S, inadequate market capitalisation of TUI[17]
22.12.2008ContinentalBeiersdorfFast-exit of Continental because of inadequate free-float market capitalisation after the acquisition by Schaeffler Group
22.12.2008Hypo Real EstateSalzgitterFast-exit of Hypo Real Estate because of inadequate free-float market capitalisation after a stake by American investor JC Flowers, as well as huge decline in market capitalisation during the Financial crisis of 2007–2010
23.03.2009Deutsche PostbankHannover ReFast-exit due to inadequate market capitalisation[18]
Infineon TechnologiesFresenius Vz
21.09.2009Hannover ReInfineon TechnologiesInadequate market capitalisation
21.06.2010SalzgitterHeidelbergCementInadequate market capitalisation
24.09.2012MANContinentalInadequate free-float capitalisation after acquisition by Volkswagen
24.09.2012MetroLanxessInadequate market capitalisation
21.09.2015LanxessVonoviaInadequate market capitalisation
21.03.2016K+SProSiebenSat.1 MediaInadequate market capitalisation
19.03.2018ProSiebenSat.1 MediaCovestroInadequate market capitalisation
24.09.2018CommerzbankWirecardInadequate market capitalisation
23.09.2019[19] ThyssenKruppMTU Aero EnginesInadequate market capitalisation
22.06.2020[20] Deutsche LufthansaDeutsche WohnenInadequate market capitalisation
19.08.2020[21] WirecardDelivery Heronew Insolvency Rule (section 5.1.1)
22.03.2021[22] BeiersdorfSiemens EnergyInadequate market capitalisation
16.09.2021VitescoVitesco was spun off from Continental, for calculating reasons added to the DAX as a temporary 31st component, and removed a day later.
17.09.2021Vitesco
20.09.2021Airbus10 companies added to expand DAX to 40 components
Brenntag
HelloFresh
Porsche SE
Puma
Qiagen
Sartorius
Siemens Healthineers
Symrise
Zalando
29.10.2021Deutsche WohnenBeiersdorf
10.12.2021Daimler TruckDaimler Truck was spun off from Mercedes-Benz, for calculating reasons added to the DAX as a temporary 41st component, and removed next trading day. It was added to the DAX again in 2022.
13.12.2021Daimler Truck
21.03.2022BeiersdorfDaimler Truck
Siemens EnergyHannover Re
20.06.2022Delivery HeroBeiersdorf
19.09.2022HelloFreshSiemens Energy
19.12.2022PumaPorscheInitial public offering of Porsche
27.02.2023LindeCommerzbankDelisting of Linde on Frankfurt stock exchange
20.03.2023Fresenius Medical CareRheinmetall

See also

Stock market lists
Other lists
Other stock market indices

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DAX Market capitalization | Markets Insider. markets.businessinsider.com.
  2. Web site: DAX. deutsche-boerse.com.
  3. Web site: Trading Parameter Xetra Frankfurt. Xetra. 23 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826023256/https://www.xetra.com/resource/blob/250972/24d50260d22cd63e0f600ae2543ca529/data/handelsparameter-xetra.pdf. 2021-08-26. live.
  4. Web site: Extension of trading hours for selected benchmark futures and MSCI futures. Eurex Exchange. 15 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826023630/https://www.eurex.com/resource/blob/1412768/e61a2c41d65ad165af7909002223b943/data/er18088e.pdf. 2021-08-26. live.
  5. News: Germany's DAX to expand to 40 members from 30 in index shake-up. Reuters . 24 November 2020. www.reuters.com.
  6. Web site: Germany's DAX index gets shake-up in wake of Wirecard scandal - Metro US. Shriya. Ramakrishnan. Shivani. Kumaresan. www.metro.us. 24 November 2020 .
  7. Web site: Historical DAX Combined Index Intraday Data (DAXA) . 2022-09-30 . PortaraCQG . en-US.
  8. Web site: Dax breaks 12,000 barrier . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/340af600-cbfa-11e4-beca-00144feab7de . 10 December 2022 . subscription . live. Financial Times.
  9. Web site: DAX Performance Index (^GDAXI) . Yahoo! Finance . 9 April 2024.
  10. Web site: Index DAX (846900) Indexstand Börsenkurs Kurs Tool - boerse.de. https://web.archive.org/web/20101019034637/http://tool.boerse.de/DAX-Indizes-846900-kurshistorie/. dead. 2010-10-19. 2010-10-19. 2020-01-20.
  11. Web site: DAX Digital DAX® (TR) EUR. DAX. dax-indices.com. en. 2020-01-20.
  12. Web site: DAX 30 Liste DAX Werte DAX Aktien. finanzen.net. de. 2019-09-24.
  13. Web site: DAX 30 Liste: Dax Realtime-Kursliste DAX Aktien DAX Werte Dax Unternehmen. boerse.de. de. 2019-09-24.
  14. Web site: dax-indices.com . Index Composition Report . xls . 2020-10-17.
  15. Deutsche Börse: Deutsche Börse ab dem 23. Dezember im DAX Pressemitteilung, 12. November 2002
  16. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Merck ersetzt Altana im DAX
  17. Deutsche Börse: K+S ersetzt TUI in DAX Pressemitteilung, 3 September 2008
  18. Web site: Fresenius und Hannover Rück steigen in Dax auf . Handelsblatt . 2009-03-04 . de . 2021-06-24.
  19. News: Sep 2019 Media release.
  20. Web site: Deutsche Lufthansa to leave Germany's DAX Index. Marketwatch. June 5, 2020. June 5, 2020.
  21. Web site: Unscheduled Component Change in DAXSelection Indices. STOXX. August 19, 2020.
  22. Web site: Composition Changes for DAX, MDAX, SDAX and TecDAX Indices. STOXX. March 3, 2021.