FTSE 100 Index Celebrates 20 Years Today

The FTSE 100 Index, calculated and managed by FTSE Group, celebrates its 20th birthday today. The UK's blue chip index was first calculated on 3rd January 1984 with a base level of 1,000 points and has since established itself as a transparent and accurate benchmark for the performance of the UK stock market. It is widely followed by international print and broadcast media and investors worldwide as an economic indicator. FTSE Group has grown from a small company calculating domestic UK indices, which include the FTSE 100 Index, into one of the world's leading index providers with 60,000 indices globally, and nine offices worldwide.

Mark Makepeace, Chief Executive, FTSE Group

Over the last twenty years, the index has risen to an all-time high of 6930.2 points on the 30th December 1999 and fallen to its lowest level of 978.7 on the 12th July 1987. The total number of FTSE 100 futures traded on LIFFE in 1984 was 73,500 which has increased to over 18 million in 2003. More than 100 million FTSE 100 futures have been traded in 20 years. ETF assets under management, linked to the FTSE 100 Index, is in excess of US$1.02 billion.

The index history reflects many key moments in UK market performance in the past 20 years, including the rise and fall of the technology sector and Black Monday, and other key market events. Twenty three of the companies that qualified for blue chip status at the inception of the FTSE 100 in January 1984 have maintained their position for 20 years and are still in the index today.

Mark Makepeace, Chief Executive, FTSE Group said, "The success of the FTSE 100 Index has given us the platform to build a global brand, with a reputation of delivering excellent index products to investors and markets worldwide."