Stock markets around the world hand off to one another throughout the 24-hour day, starting in Asia, moving to Europe, and finishing in the US. Knowing the main indices helps you see what global money is thinking.
Asia (opens in the morning, Thai time)
| Index | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | Japan | 225 large-cap stocks, price-weighted, sensitive to the yen exchange rate |
| TOPIX | Japan | Broad coverage of stocks on the Tokyo market, market-cap weighted |
| KOSPI | South Korea | Heavily weighted toward technology and chip stocks |
| Hang Seng | Hong Kong | Large Hong Kong stocks, including many Chinese companies |
| Shanghai Composite | China | All stocks listed on the Shanghai market |
| CSI 300 | China | 300 large-cap stocks from Shanghai and Shenzhen |
| Nifty 50 / Sensex | India | India's large-cap stocks |
| SET Index | Thailand | Read Thai stock market |
Europe (opens in the afternoon to evening, Thai time)
| Index | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DAX 40 | Germany | 40 large companies, focused on industry and exports |
| FTSE 100 | United Kingdom | 100 large companies, with many energy, mining and bank stocks |
| CAC 40 | France | Includes several luxury goods stocks |
| Euro Stoxx 50 | Eurozone | 50 leading companies in countries that use the euro |
US (opens in the evening to late night, Thai time)
S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones: read the details in US stock indices
How to Use This
- Asian markets in the morning often react to what happened in the US market the previous night
- Japanese indices and the yen When the yen weakens, Japanese export stocks tend to benefit, so the Nikkei often rises
- Chinese and Hong Kong stocks are sensitive to Chinese government policy and China–US relations
- Europe is sensitive to energy prices and the policies of the European Central Bank (ECB)
Each market's opening and closing times depend on the season and on each country's holidays. Check the holiday calendar before planning a trade.
For education only, not investment advice. Figures change over time, so check official sources before making decisions.