What is the FTSE 100?
The FTSE 100 is a stock index that tracks the 100 largest publicly-traded companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The companies are ranked by market capitalisation – the combined value of the FTSE 100 is worth more than 80% of the entire LSE’s market cap.
The FTSE 100 is used as a benchmark for the economic health of the UK. If the price of the index rises, the constituents share prices are rising, which generally indicates a positive economic situation. Whereas a falling FTSE is a sign that the companies (and the wider economy) are experiencing a period of contraction.