The Nikkei 225 is a broad-based, price-weighted composite security index consisting of highly capitalized and actively traded stocks currently listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). Managed and published by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Nikkei Shimbun), the Nikkei 225 is a widely observed index of stock market activity in Japan. As of April 20, 2006, the total market capitalization of the Nikkei 225 was approximately U.S. $3.32 trillion.
For information on foreign exchange-traded security index futures contracts pending no-action approval with the CFTC's OGC, see the Foreign Instrument Approvals & Exemptions Backgrounder at www.cftc.gov/opa/backgrounder/opapart30.htm.