The CAC 40 is a capitalization-weighted index serving as a benchmark for funds investing in the French stock market. CAC 40 index was launched in 1987 with a base value of 1,000 and it tracks top 40 companies traded on the Euronext Paris exchange. It is similar to the Dow Jones Industrial Average in that it is the most commonly used index that represents the overall level and direction of the market in France and the French economy in general. Most of the weight of the index is represented in sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, Banking, and Oil equipment.