Learn About FTSE Group and Its Impact on Global Markets

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FTSE Group is a leading global index provider, operating in over 16 countries. Their indices are widely used as benchmarks for investment performance.

FTSE Group is a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group, which has a long history dating back to 1698. The company was founded in 2000, after the London Stock Exchange demutualized.

The FTSE 100 index, launched in 1984, is one of the company's most popular and widely followed indices, tracking the performance of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

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History of FTSE

The FTSE Group has a fascinating history that spans over three decades. It was created in 1984 as a joint venture between the Financial Times of London and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The FTSE indices were initially calculated for the Financial Times' parent company Pearson, and later the index team was spun off into a joint venture in 1995.

In 1995, Pearson and the London Stock Exchange Group created the FTSE Group.

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History of the FTSE Group

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The FTSE Group has a rich history that dates back to 1984, when the London Stock Exchange (LSE) began calculating the FTSE 100 Index for the Financial Times' parent company Pearson.

The index team was later spun off into a joint venture in 1995, marking a significant milestone for the group.

The FTSE Group was created by Pearson and the London Stock Exchange Group in 1995, a joint venture that would shape the future of the company.

In 2005, FTSE launched the Industry Classification Benchmark with Dow Jones, a taxonomy used to segregate markets into sectors.

This move helped to establish the FTSE Group as a leading player in the industry classification space.

The joint venture with Xinhua Finance was terminated in 2010, and the index series was renamed into FTSE China Index Series, reflecting the group's growing presence in the Chinese market.

Pearson sold its stake in the FTSE Group to LSE in 2011, giving LSE full ownership of the company.

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In December 2011, LSE Group acquired Pearson's 50 percent ownership of the FTSE Group, becoming the sole owner of the index group.

The acquisition marked a significant turning point for the company, allowing it to expand its operations and services.

The LSE Group's acquisition of Frank Russell Company in 2014 brought about a major shift in the company's operations and services.

The purchase gave the LSE Group the opportunity to attract trading in securities and derivatives that track the Russell indices, a major milestone for the company.

The acquisition also made the LSE Group the No. 2 player in U.S.-listed exchange traded funds, a significant achievement.

The LSE Group entered into a licensing agreement with CBOE in February 2015, a move that would expand the company's reach and services.

The agreement allowed CBOE to develop and list options based on existing FTSE and Russell Indices, a significant development for the company.

In April 2020, Cboe Global Markets and FTSE Russell agreed to extend their licensing agreement through 2030, a testament to the strength of their partnership.

Fledging

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The Fledging Index was a bit of a misnomer, as it didn't necessarily include new companies, but rather smaller market cap value companies.

Its name was somewhat misleading, as the components weren't necessarily new firms.

The FTSE Fledging Index included companies like Tex Holdings (TXH) and Hornby Railways (HRN), which didn't meet the requirements for the FTSE All-Share Index due to their small market capitalization.

As of 2018, there were no liquidity requirements for constituents of the Fledgling Index.

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What is the FTSE

The FTSE, or Financial Times Stock Exchange, is a global provider of benchmark financial indexes, market data, and analytics. It was established in 2015 after the merger of FTSE and Russell Investments.

The FTSE is now owned and maintained by the London Stock Exchange Group, and it's a major indicator of the performance of the broader market. It's similar in importance to the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500.

Credit: youtube.com, What is the FTSE 100?

The FTSE 100 is a key index that tracks the 100 largest public companies by market capitalization trading on the London Stock Exchange. "Footsie" is slang for the Financial Times-Stock Exchange 100 Share Index (FTSE 100).

The level of the FTSE 100 is calculated continuously throughout the trading day, from 8:00 AM until the 4:30 p.m. LSE close. This means that the index value changes with individual share prices of the indexed companies throughout the trading day.

A FTSE 100 decline means that the value of the largest U.K. listed companies decreased, while hitting a new high means that the total worth of all the indexed companies increased.

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FTSE Indices

The FTSE Indices are a series of global stock indices that serve as benchmarks for various asset classes and investing strategies. The FTSE Russell Group, a U.K.-based global provider of benchmark financial indexes, market data, and analytics, offers these indices.

The FTSE Indices include the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and other sub-indices such as the FTSE Global Equity Index Series and the FTSE AIM UK 50 Index. These indices are widely used in Europe and are considered leading indicators of prosperity for companies in the U.K. and the U.K. economy in general.

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Investors can gain exposure to the FTSE Indices through the use of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track the indexes. Some popular ETFs that track the FTSE 100 Index include the iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF and the Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

What Are Indices?

Indices are a way to track the performance of a group of stocks, like a report card for the market. They provide a snapshot of how a particular market or sector is doing.

The FTSE 100, for example, is an index that tracks the top 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange by market capitalization. It's widely used in Europe and is often seen as a proxy for the performance of the wider UK stock market.

Investors can't invest directly in an index, but they can use Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track the index to get exposure to the companies listed in it. Two popular ETFs that track the FTSE 100 are the iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF and the Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

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The FTSE 100 is calculated continuously throughout the trading day, and its value is measured against the previous day's market close. A decline in the FTSE 100 means the value of the largest UK-listed companies has decreased.

Here are some of the top 5 companies in the FTSE 100 by market capitalization, as of June 22, 2024:

The FTSE 100 is often considered a leading indicator of prosperity for companies in the UK and the UK economy in general.

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250

The FTSE 250 Index is often a more accurate reflection of the UK economy's performance compared to the FTSE 100. This is because it contains more domestic companies, rather than large multinational firms.

It represents mid-cap stocks traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), consisting of the 101st to 350th largest companies by market capitalization.

The FTSE 250 Index is made up of companies that are not as large as those in the FTSE 100, but still significant in the UK market.

Some notable component firms of the FTSE 250 Index include Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) and City of London Investment Trust (CTY).

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Investing in FTSE

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You can't directly invest in the FTSE index, but you can invest in funds that replicate or track its performance.

These funds are called exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and they offer a way to gain exposure to the FTSE without buying individual stocks.

ETFs like the Vanguard FTSE 100 and the iShares 350 U.K. Equity Index Fund allow you to invest in a basket of stocks that make up the FTSE index.

The Vanguard FTSE 100, for example, tracks the FTSE 100 index, which means it invests in the same companies that make up the index.

Some popular ETFs that track the FTSE 100 index include the Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF and the iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

You can also invest in ETFs that track other FTSE indexes, such as the FTSE 250 or the FTSE U.K. All Share Index.

If you prefer to buy individual stocks, you can also invest in the separate component companies of the FTSE index.

Here are some examples of ETFs that track the FTSE 100 index:

  • iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF
  • Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF
  • HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF
  • UBS FTSE 100 UCITS ETF

U.S. Equivalent

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The U.S. equivalent of the FTSE 100 is the S&P 500. It tracks 500 companies, making it a broader market indicator in the U.S.

The S&P 500 is considered the key index in the U.S. that serves as a broader market indicator, similar to the FTSE 100 in the UK.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is another prominent U.S. index, tracking 30 prominent U.S. companies, but the S&P 500 is more closely related to the FTSE 100 in terms of its broader market scope.

The S&P 500 is widely used in the U.S. financial media to report on market movements, just like the FTSE 100 in the UK.

FTSE Basics

The FTSE Group is a global provider of benchmark financial indexes, market data, and analytics, established in the UK.

The FTSE Group was formed in 2015 after the merger of FTSE and Russell Investments.

The FTSE Group is based in the UK.

The FTSE Group has many other indexes that serve as benchmarks for various asset classes and investing strategies.

These indexes provide a standard for investors to measure the performance of their investments.

The Bottom Line

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FTSE Group is a leading global index provider, with a history dating back to 1935 when the FT 30 was launched.

The FT 30 was the first stock market index in the UK, and it paved the way for the development of other indices.

FTSE Group is now responsible for managing over 24,000 stocks across 25 global indices.

These indices are used by investors, asset managers, and exchanges worldwide.

FTSE Group's flagship index, the FTSE 100, is widely regarded as a benchmark for the UK stock market.

It's made up of the 100 largest and most liquid stocks listed on the London Stock Exchange.

FTSE Group's indices are used to track the performance of various asset classes, including equities, fixed income, and commodities.

The company's indices are also used to create exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other investment products.

FTSE Group's global indices cover over 90% of the world's investable market capitalization.

This makes them a valuable resource for investors looking to gain exposure to specific regions or sectors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTSE only UK companies?

The FTSE 100 Index only includes the 100 most highly capitalized blue-chip companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, which are primarily UK-based companies. However, it's worth noting that the index may also include some international companies with a significant UK presence.

What does the FTSE Russell stand for?

FTSE Russell stands for the Financial Times Stock Exchange, a name that reflects its origins in the UK's financial sector. It's a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group, managing indexes and data services.

How does FTSE Russell make money?

FTSE Russell generates revenue from fees associated with using its index information and services. This revenue supports the company's operations and enables it to continue providing valuable market data and insights.

Carolyn VonRueden

Junior Writer

Carolyn VonRueden is a versatile writer with a passion for crafting engaging content on a wide range of topics. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, Carolyn has established herself as a reliable voice in the world of finance and travel writing. Her portfolio boasts a diverse array of article categories, from exploring the benefits of cash cards to delving into the intricacies of Delta SkyMiles payment options.

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