What is the CSI 300?

The CSI 300 (China Securities Index 300) is a capitalization-weighted stock market index designed to replicate the performance of the top 300 stocks traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

It is widely considered the premier benchmark for mainland China's domestic stock market (known as A-shares). By combining stocks from both Shanghai (which leans heavily toward traditional state-owned enterprises like banking and energy) and Shenzhen (which is known as China's Silicon Valley due to its heavy tech focus), it provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Chinese economy.

Ticker: 000300.SS

Curiosity: For a long time, the domestic A-shares inside the CSI 300 were completely off-limits to international investors! It wasn't until the launch of the special "Stock Connect" programs in recent years that regular global investors and foreign institutions could easily buy shares in these massive mainland Chinese companies.