ft share indexes
C1Formal, Financial/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A collection of stock market indices published by the Financial Times, tracking the performance of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
A family of benchmark indices used globally to measure the performance of UK and international stock markets, with the FTSE 100 being the most prominent, representing the 100 largest companies by market capitalisation on the London Stock Exchange.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a proper noun referring to specific, branded indices. 'FT' stands for 'Financial Times'. Often used interchangeably with 'FTSE indexes' (Financial Times Stock Exchange). It represents a basket of stocks, not a single entity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'FTSE' is pronounced as individual letters (F-T-S-E) or as 'Footsie'. In the US, it is more commonly referred to by its full name 'Financial Times Stock Exchange Index' or just 'FTSE', often with less familiarity. The spelling 'indexes' is standard in financial contexts on both sides of the Atlantic, though 'indices' is also acceptable.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes the primary barometer of the domestic market's health. In the US, it is seen as a key indicator for European/UK market exposure.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK financial news and reports. Moderate frequency in US international finance contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [FT share indexes] [verb: rose/fell/closed].Investors monitor [the FT share indexes].[The FTSE 100] is a constituent of [the FT share indexes].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for reporting market performance, portfolio benchmarking, and economic analysis.
Academic
Used in finance and economics research papers analysing market efficiency, volatility, and correlations.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of news reports about the stock market. A layperson might say 'the Footsie is up today'.
Technical
Precise reference to specific indices (e.g., FTSE 100, FTSE All-Share) for derivatives pricing, index fund creation, and regulatory reporting.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- FTSE-listed companies
- FT-index performance
American English
- FTSE-based funds
- FT-index tracking
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The FT share indexes show how the London stock market is doing.
- After the budget announcement, all major FT share indexes experienced significant volatility.
- The fund manager's strategy outperformed the relevant FT share index by 200 basis points over the fiscal year.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Financial Times (FT) Sharing (share) its list of Important Numbers (indexes) for the stock market.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MARKET IS A PATIENT (The indexes are its vital signs). THE MARKET IS A MEASURING DEVICE (The indexes are the gauge).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'FT' as just 'финансовый' – it's a specific newspaper title 'Financial Times'.
- Do not confuse 'share' here with 'to share' (делиться). It means 'акция'.
- 'Indexes' here are not alphabetical lists (указатели), but numerical measures (индексы, показатели).
Common Mistakes
- Saying 'FT shares index' (incorrect noun modification).
- Using 'FTSE' to refer to the company that calculates the indexes (FTSE Russell) rather than the indexes themselves.
- Pronouncing FTSE as a single word like 'futsey'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the 'FT' in FT share indexes stand for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
FT share indexes is the general term for the family of indices. The FTSE 100 is one specific index within that family, tracking the top 100 companies.
Both are correct plurals. 'Indexes' is very common in financial and technical writing, while 'indices' is often used in mathematical and general contexts.
They are calculated in real-time during trading hours and published continuously. The official closing values are published at the end of each trading day.
Not directly, as an index is just a measurement. However, you can invest in financial products like index funds (ETFs) or derivatives that track its performance.