Since 1988, it has captured the development of the 30 largest exchange-listed companies in Germany – and thus the development of the country’s economy as a whole.

DAX^®, Germany’s iconic benchmark, is often referred to as the domestic stock market’s leading index. It tracks the 30 largest companies by exchange turnover and market capitalisation listed on Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (FWB^®, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) and acts as a key indicator for the strength of the German economy. Furthermore, it serves as an underlying for derivative financial instruments and structured products. Its 30 constituents account for approximately 75 per cent of German listed companies‘ nominal capital and around 85 per cent of the trading volume in domestic shares.

Since its inception at 1,163 points on 1 July 1988, the index level has increased more than tenfold – despite temporary setbacks caused by the burst of the dot-com bubble, market disruptions after 9/11 or the financial crisis.

During all these years, DAX has tracked events and developments in Germany and around the world, with booms and busts, trends, crises and periods of calm all captured by the index’s performance.

On 1 July, DAX turned 30 – a great opportunity to cast a look back and celebrate.

Opening Bell Event in the Alte Börse’s trading hall