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Sensex

Definition

The benchmark index of the BSE, tracking the performance of 30 well-established and financially sound companies.

Understanding Sensex

The BSE Sensex (Sensitivity Index) is the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Composed of 30 of the largest, most actively traded stocks representing key industrial sectors, it is India's oldest and most widely tracked market index.

How It Works

Like Nifty, the Sensex is calculated using the free-float market capitalization-weighted method. The index base year is 1978-79, with a base value of 100. It is adjusted dynamically to ensure it accurately reflects market capitalization changes and sector representation of India's blue-chip companies.

Why It Matters for Traders

For decades, Sensex was the sole measure of Indian stock market health. Its milestones (crossing 10k, 50k, 70k) represent historic markers of Indian economic growth and wealth creation. Index fund managers use it to design passive investment portfolios that match the returns of the top Indian corporate giants.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sensex

Who select stocks for BSE Sensex?

An Index Committee consisting of stock market experts, economists, and exchange officials reviews and selects the 30 component stocks based on market cap, liquidity, trading frequency, and sector representation.

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Related Terms

  • National Stock Exchange (NSE)

    The leading stock exchange in India, located in Mumbai, known for its electronic trading platform and Nifty index.

  • Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

    Asia's oldest stock exchange, established in 1875, based in Mumbai with the flagship Sensex index.

  • Nifty 50

    The benchmark stock index of the NSE, representing the weighted average of 50 of the largest Indian companies.