How Did Stock Markets Perform in 2019?

Major stock indices have gained value over the course of 2019 – and some stock markets even posted substantial increases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 22 percent at the end of the year compared to 12 months earlier, the same as the Shanghai Composite (SSE Composite Index). Both are beaten by the Dax, which gained 25 percent over the same time period.

Japan’s Nikkei index gained 18 percent in 2019, making it one of the stronger major indices in Asia. The index ended the year on a high note after the Japanese government announced a $120 billion stimulus package in early December. The Hong Kong and South Korean benchmark indices performed substantially worse.

The chart compares selected major indices that are considered benchmarks in their respective markets. The methodologies behind the indices differ, however. While the Dow shows the performance of the 30 largest companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nikkei includes 225 large Japanese firms, both the South Korean Kospi and the Shanghai Composite are indices of all stocks traded in the respective marketplaces.