The CAC 40 Index ETF is a popular investment option for those looking to tap into the French stock market. The CAC 40 is the benchmark stock market index in France, comprising the 40 most liquid and representative stocks listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange.
To qualify for the CAC 40, a company must be listed on Euronext Paris and meet certain criteria, such as having a free float of at least 15% of its shares. The index is reviewed quarterly to ensure it remains representative of the French market.
Investing in a CAC 40 Index ETF provides exposure to the top-performing French companies, including multinational corporations like Total and Sanofi. The CAC 40 Index ETF is designed to track the performance of the underlying index, offering a convenient and cost-effective way to invest in the French market.
What Is the CAC 40 Index ETF?
The CAC 40 Index ETF is a popular investment tool that allows you to gain exposure to the French stock market.
The CAC 40 Index is one of the most liquid stock market indices in the world, making it a great option for traders who want to buy and sell quickly.
You can get exposure to the index by speculating on individual stocks or exchange traded funds (ETFs). Most traders follow the index because France represents a large portion of the European economy, making it a useful indicator for speculating on performance of the entire region.
The CAC 40 Index ETF tracks the 40 largest shares listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, which are selected based on market capitalisation.
The Paris Stock Exchange has a fixed opening and closing time, which enables you to identify trends and patterns that develop and get exposure.
The CAC 40 Index ETF is a great way to take a position on the French market, and you can use fundamental analysis when monitoring news updates, monetary policy, macro and micropolitics to understand price movements before making a prediction.
You can distribute risk by trading the CAC 40 Index ETF instead of a single company stock.
Here are some key facts about the CAC 40 Index ETF:
- The CAC 40 Index initially started with a base level of 1000 on 31 December 1987.
- The index hit an all-time high of 6922.33 points during the dot-com bubble around the early 2000s.
- The CAC 40 Index is updated every 15 seconds from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5.30pm (UTC+2).
Key Information
The CAC 40 index ETF is a popular investment tool, but it's essential to understand its performance and volatility. The 30-day performance of the CAC 40 index is 1.48%.
Over the past 90 days, the CAC 40 index has seen a -1.82% decline. This suggests that the market has been experiencing some fluctuations. The high point of the index over this period was 7,644.05.
The low point of the CAC 40 index over the past 30 days was 7,194.49. This indicates some volatility in the market. The volatility of the index over this period was 13.05.
Here's a summary of the key performance indicators:
The CAC 40 index has seen significant declines over the past 250 days, with a -8.95% performance. This is a notable drop, indicating a more substantial market downturn. The high point of the index over this period was 8,253.10.
Investment Details
The CAC 40 Index ETF is a popular investment option for those looking to track the French market.
It has a low management fee of 0.10% per annum, making it a cost-effective choice for investors.
The ETF holds a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 50 securities, providing a diversified portfolio.
This diversity helps to reduce risk and increase potential returns.
The CAC 40 Index itself is a market-capitalization-weighted index, meaning the largest companies have a greater influence on the index's performance.
Cost of ETFs
The cost of ETFs is a crucial factor to consider when making investment decisions. The total expense ratio (TER) of CAC 40 ETFs is relatively low, ranging from 0.20% p.a. to 0.25% p.a.
This is significantly lower than most actively managed funds, which can charge much higher fees per year. Using a cost calculator can help you calculate your individual cost savings.
The cheapest CAC 40 ETF by total expense ratio is the Xtrackers CAC 40 UCITS ETF 1D, with a TER of 0.20% p.a.
Here's a comparison of the top 3 CAC 40 ETFs by total expense ratio:
Stocks
The CAC 40 is a key stock market index in France, and understanding how it works can be a great starting point for investors. The CAC 40 is a basket of 40 of the largest and most liquid stocks listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange.
One way to trade the CAC 40 is by using CFDs, which allow you to trade the price difference between the opening and closing position. You can go long if you think the market price will rise or go short if you think it'll fall.
The CAC 40 index is made up of a diverse range of companies, including Air Liquide, Airbus, and AXA. These companies are selected based on their market capitalization, liquidity, and sector representation.
Here's a breakdown of the top 10 companies in the CAC 40 index, based on their market capitalization:
Investors can also trade the CAC 40 index through ETFs, which provide a convenient way to gain exposure to the index. However, it's worth noting that trading CAC 40-linked fund shares using CFDs can be more cost-effective and provide better liquidity.
Performance Comparison
The performance of a CAC 40 index ETF is a crucial factor to consider when selecting one. Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Acc and Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist have shown similar returns, with 1-year returns of 0.68% and 3-year returns of 12.40% and 12.36% respectively.
The chart comparison feature allows you to see the returns of all CAC 40 ETFs in a visual format, making it easier to identify patterns and trends. You can compare returns over different time periods, such as cumulative, calendar year, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Here is a summary of the 1-year returns for the mentioned ETFs:
The 3-year returns for these ETFs are also worth noting, with Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Acc and Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist showing returns of 12.40% and 12.36% respectively.
ETF Overview
ETFs give traders access to a wide range of markets and assets through a single point of entry – an ETF share.
You can trade on CAC 40-linked ETFs using a CFD trading account to take a position. This allows you to speculate on price movements without actually owning the underlying assets.
Trading CAC 40-linked ETFs has several benefits, including lower spreads, higher liquidity, and longer market hours. This makes it a popular choice among traders who want to take advantage of the CAC 40's liquidity and volatility.
Here are some key facts to consider when trading CAC 40 ETFs:
- Lower spreads: Trading CAC 40-linked ETFs directly can result in lower spreads compared to trading individual stocks.
- Higher liquidity: The CAC 40 is one of the most liquid stock market indices in the world, making it easier to buy and sell.
- Longer market hours: The Paris Stock Exchange has a fixed opening and closing time, but you can trade before and after this time using a derivative product.
ETFs
ETFs offer a convenient way to access a wide range of markets and assets through a single point of entry – an ETF share.
With ETFs, you can trade on CAC 40-linked ETFs using a CFD trading account to take a position.
Trading on the index directly using CFDs has lower spreads, higher liquidity, and longer market hours compared to other options.
You can also trade CAC 40-linked fund shares using a derivative product to speculate on price movements.
CFDs provide a way to trade the real price, giving you more flexibility and control over your trades.
Trading CAC 40-linked ETFs or fund shares can be a great way to diversify your investment portfolio and potentially reduce risk.
Companies in the Index
The CAC 40 index is home to some of the biggest names in the world of business, including LVMH, L’Oréal, and Hermès.
These companies are reviewed every quarter by an independent committee to determine their ranking, which is based on their turnover from the previous 12 months and overall market capitalisation.
Some of the most notable companies in the index are French-based corporations, but what's interesting is that they make up the majority of the listed stocks.
Approximately 45% of the listed stocks are owned by foreign investors, which is a significant chunk of the total.
This mix of domestic and international ownership makes the CAC 40 index a unique and attractive option for investors.
The ranking of the companies in the index can change frequently, so it's essential to keep an eye on the current market trends and values.
These changes can have a significant impact on the overall performance of the index, making it a dynamic and engaging investment opportunity.
Markets
The CAC 40 index is a popular choice among traders due to its liquidity and the fact that France represents a large portion of the European economy.
France has one fifth of the Euro area gross domestic product (GDP), making it the fifth largest economy in the world. This makes the CAC 40 a useful indicator for speculating on the performance of the entire region.
You can get exposure to the CAC 40 index by speculating on individual stocks or exchange traded funds (ETFs). This allows you to take a bullish or bearish position depending on news updates about the economy or quarterly results of individual CAC 40 stocks.
The Paris Stock Exchange has a fixed opening and closing time, which enables you to identify trends and patterns that develop. This fixed schedule also allows you to trade before and after the fixed opening and closing time using derivative products.
Some benefits of trading the CAC 40 index include:
- Distributing risk by trading the CAC 40 instead of a single company stock
- Using fundamental analysis when monitoring news updates, monetary policy, macro and micropolitics to understand price movements
- Getting exposure to the French market through the CAC 40
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CAC 40 index stand for?
The CAC 40 index is a stock market index representing the 40 largest and most liquid equities listed on the Euronext Paris. It's a key benchmark for the French stock market.
What is the methodology of CAC 40 index?
The CAC 40 index is a capitalization-weighted index, where the weight of each company is determined by its market capitalization. The index weights are reviewed quarterly, based on the number of shares issued by each company.
Sources
- https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/cac_40
- https://www.justetf.com/en/how-to/cac-40-etfs.html
- https://www.ig.com/en/trading-strategies/cac-40--what-is-it-and-how-do-you-trade-or-invest-in-it--230330
- https://www.morningstarfunds.ie/ie/etf/snapshot/snapshot.aspx
- https://www.ig.com/en-ch/trading-strategies/cac-40---what-is-it-and-how-do-you-trade-on-it--230419
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