Centred on the Borsa Italiana, the Italian equities market allows investors to invest in the capital of a wide range of companies on the peninsula. Founded in 1808 and based in Milan, the Borsa Italiana remains Italy's main stock exchange. It became part of the London Stock Exchange group in 2007, strengthening its international profile. The FTSE MIB index is Borsa Italiana's flagship index. It comprises 40 of the best-valued, most liquid companies that are most representative of the Italian economy. However, other stock market indices, such as the FTSE Italia Mid Cap and the FTSE Italia Small Cap, also cover the Italian economy (mid caps and small caps respectively). Regulated by the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB), the Italian equity market is characterised by a strong presence of sectors such as banking, insurance, fashion, automotive and consumer goods. Shares listed on the Borsa Italiana attract a wide variety of investors, from institutional to retail, and offer the opportunity to invest in start-ups at the beginning of their stock market career as well as in large, long-established groups that have long since reached maturity. The Italian stock market is a key indicator of the country's economic health. Its performance is often seen as a barometer of investor confidence in the Italian economy, and by extension, in the eurozone.