Stock market indices track securities market behavior and show average market movements. Over 3 million indices exist worldwide according to Index Industry Association. Indices are calculated by rating or exchange agencies
Launched in September 2003, covers over 17,000 stocks in 48 countries. Covers 98% of world's investable market capitalization. Includes Total Cap, All Cap, and All-World indices. Several indices used by The Vanguard Group
FTSE is an acronym for FTSE Russell Group, formerly Financial Times Stock Exchange Group. London Stock Exchange Group owns FTSE Russell Group. Established in 2015 after merger of FTSE and Russell Investments
S&P 500 is a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading U.S. companies. Launched in 1957 by Standard & Poor's, now includes 503 components. Index represents largest U.S. companies and is widely used as market gauge
MSCI stands for Morgan Stanley Capital International. Founded in 1986 when Morgan Stanley acquired Capital International data. Acquired Barra in 2004 for $816.4 million. Became independent public company in 2009
S&P Global was founded in 1860s as Poor's Publishing and Standard Statistics Bureau. Company merged in 1941, acquired by McGraw-Hill in 1966. Renamed S&P Global in 2016 after merger with Dow Jones Indices