Introduced in 1977 the S&P/TSX Composite is the headline index and the principal broad market measure for Canadian Equity markets. It includes common stock and income trust units and serves as the benchmark for the majority of Canadian pension funds and mutual funds. Constituents of the S&P/TSX Composite Index are also members of either the S&P/TSX Equity indices (the S&P/TSX Equity or the S&P/TSX Equity Completion) or the suite of indices which include income trusts (S&P/TSX Income Trust, S&P/TSX Capped REIT, The S&P/TSX Capped Energy Trust, the S&P/TSX 60, or the S&P/TSX Completion), or both.
Index constituents exhibit the following characteristics:
- Weighting – Market capitalization
- Public Float – Adjusted for available shares
The S&P/TSX Composite in the basis for numerous sub-indices, which break down the Canadian market by different factors including size, Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS
®) and income trust inclusion versus non-inclusion.
Index Governance and Policy
This index is maintained by the S&P Canadian Index Committee, whose members include representatives from both Standard & Poor's and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Committee oversight gives investors the benefit of Standard & Poor's depth of experience, research and analytic capabilities, combined with Toronto Stock Exchange's intimate local industry knowledge.