FTSE 100 Index

An index of the share prices of the 100 largest companies (by market capitalisation, updated quarterly) in the UK that is updated throughout the trading day in real time. The index was started in 1984 with a base of 1,000. Stock Exchange indices are designed to give investors an idea of the general movement of the stock market and its overall value. By comparing the performance of their own portfolios with the performance of an index, investors can see how well they have done from a comparative point of view. In particular they can see whether they would have been better off putting their money in an index tracker fund. <@See also emphasis>See also<@$p> FTSE Actuaries All-Share Index. The main sub-indices of the FTSE Actuaries All-Share are: FTSE 100: the 100 largest quoted companies in the UK; FTSE 250: the next largest 250 companies; FTSE 350: combination of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250; FTSE Small cap: the remaining companies listed in the FTSE Actuaries All-Share index. The FTSE Fledgling index includes those companies too small to qualify for the FTSE All-Share, while the FTSE AIM includes companies trading on the Alternative Investment Market.