Banks represent a sizeable share of the broad market portfolio in developed equity markets. In the United States and the United Kingdom, this share grew substantially over the past two decades in line with the increase in financial activity. For example, at the end of 2011 banks made up around 5% and 10% of the overall market capitalisation, respectively, of the S&P 500 and FTSE 100 indices. This was roughly double their share at the beginning of the 1990s, albeit only half that on the eve of the crisis. The market capitalisation shares in continental Europe and Asia.
