All the indexes and averages in Table 1 represent large capitalization stocks that are a significant portion of the value of all stocks traded on each exchange. On some foreign exchanges, a very few companies can dominate an index due to their large capitalizations and how an index is calculated. In emerging markets, an important stock can overpower the index. While the number of stocks varies considerably index to index, because the stocks represent larger firms that command the most interest, the actual number of stocks in the index is usually less important. The returns are calculated in dollars and the standard deviation includes the risk of variable exchange rates.
Higher numbers represent higher relative risk.
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