The Footsie index, also known as the FTSE 100, is the main stock index for the London Stock Exchange. The term "Footsie" is derived from the acronym FTSE, which stands for Financial Times Stock Exchange. The phonetic transcription for Footsie is /ˈfʊtsi/, with the stress on the first syllable. The spelling of this word may be confusing for those not familiar with the acronym, but it is an important term in the world of finance and investing.
The Footsie index, short for Financial Times Stock Exchange index, is a benchmark stock market index used to measure the performance of the 100 largest publicly traded companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). It is one of the most widely recognized and traded indices in the United Kingdom.
The Footsie index is calculated using a market capitalization-weighted methodology. This means that the index value is determined based on the market value of each constituent company's outstanding shares. The companies included in the index are determined by a quarterly review conducted by the FTSE Group, which considers factors such as market capitalization, liquidity, and free-float shares.
The Footsie index provides a snapshot of the overall performance and direction of the UK stock market. It is considered a key barometer of investor sentiment and economic health, indicating the strength or weakness of the British economy. Movements in the index are closely watched by investors, traders, and financial analysts as an indicator of market trends.
As a widely used benchmark, the Footsie index is utilized for various purposes such as asset allocation, performance evaluation, and the creation of financial products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index derivatives. It serves as a reference point for portfolio managers and investors to track the progress of their investments against the broader market.
The term "Footsie index" refers to the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100), which is commonly known as the "Footsie". The etymology of the word is derived from the acronym FTSE, which stands for Financial Times Stock Exchange, and the numerical value of 100, representing the number of companies included in the index. The term "Footsie" itself originated from the abbreviated term for the Financial Times (FT) and the slang word "tootsie" (later shortened to "foot"), which is a colloquial term for the stock market. Thus, "Footsie index" is essentially a nickname for the FTSE 100.