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FTSE 100 · UK^FTSE
The UK's 100 biggest blue-chips — but most of their money is made outside Britain.
Past week: +0.07%
30-day price
Where the chart sits — description, not prediction
Trading above both its 50-day (10,402.04) and 200-day (10,029.13) averages — the longer-term trend reads as up. 30-day range 10,195.40–10,508.60; currently in the upper third of that range. RSI(14) 54 — momentum roughly neutral.
Computed from daily closing prices (Yahoo Finance), June 23, 2026. Compare all markets →
What is FTSE 100 · UK?
The FTSE 100 is the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, tracking the 100 largest UK-listed companies by free-float market value. It launched on 3 January 1984 with a base of 1,000 points. Membership is reviewed each quarter (March, June, September, December): a company must fall outside the top 110 to be ejected, or rise above the top 90 to be promoted.
Despite being a 'UK' index, roughly 75-80% of FTSE 100 revenues are earned outside Britain. Giants like Shell, AstraZeneca, Unilever and HSBC are global businesses, so the index often moves on the dollar, oil and emerging-market sentiment rather than the UK economy. A falling pound can actually lift it, because overseas earnings translate into more sterling. For US readers, London trades 3:00-11:30 AM ET — its session is a pre-open tell on global risk appetite.
What has moved FTSE 100 · UK
Black Monday, 19 Oct 1987: -12.2% in a day
Only three years old, the FTSE 100 shed 12.2% on 19 October 1987 as the US program-trading rout swept through London, falling from ~2,367 toward 1,582 by December — an early lesson that London tracks US sentiment despite the time gap.
2008 crisis: -31% on the year, trough 3,512 in March 2009
After Lehman failed in September 2008 the index lost 31% over the year and bottomed at 3,512 in March 2009 as the heavily-weighted UK banks faced existential stress. It did not recover above 6,000 until 2013.
Brexit vote, 24 June 2016: -8.7% over two days
After the 52-48 leave vote the FTSE fell 8.7% in two sessions as sterling crashed — then rebounded fast, because the weaker pound inflated overseas earnings, showing the index's unusual inverse link to its own currency.
COVID crash, 12 March 2020: -11% in a day
On 12 March 2020 the FTSE fell 11% — its worst day since 1987 — and dropped over 30% from its pre-pandemic high to 4,993 before stimulus and vaccines drove a full recovery.
Notable moments
A record that stood 15 years
Driven by the dotcom boom, the FTSE 100 hit a record near 6,930 on 20 December 1999, then fell below 4,000 by 2003. That peak was not surpassed until February 2015 — over 15 years later.
The exodus to New York
Between 2022 and 2024 a wave of big constituents — Ashtead, CRH, Flutter — relisted in New York, removing close to £120 billion of value from the index and fuelling a debate about London's competitiveness.
Common questions
Why does a weak pound often push the FTSE 100 higher?
About 75-80% of FTSE 100 revenues are earned in foreign currencies, especially dollars. When sterling falls, those earnings translate into more pounds, lifting reported profits and share prices.
Is the FTSE 100 a good proxy for the UK economy?
Not really — most revenue comes from abroad, so it often diverges from UK data. The FTSE 250 (the next 250 companies) is far more domestic and is the better UK-economy gauge.
What time does it trade versus US markets?
London runs 8:00 AM-4:30 PM UK time, which is 3:00-11:30 AM Eastern — so the FTSE finishes its day before Wall Street reaches midday, making it a key pre-open read. This page is educational, not investment advice.
How often do members change?
Constituents are reviewed quarterly. A company must rise above rank 90 to join or fall below rank 110 to leave, which limits churn.