The FTSE 250 Index Scales New Heights

The FTSE 250 index, the definitive measure of the UK mid cap market, closed at its highest ever level since its launch in October 1992. The market benchmark index finished at 7225.4 at the UK market close today.

The FTSE 250 index has significantly outperformed the FTSE 100 index over a two year period. From 31 January 2003 to 31 January 2005 the FTSE 250 index has increased by 78% compared to the 36% increase of the FTSE 100 index over the same period. The FTSE 250 contains the largest 250 companies in the UK outside the FTSE 100 and accounts for 14% of the FTSE All-Share’s market capitalisation.

Gareth Parker, Head of Index Design, FTSE Group observes, “This is not just a trend in the UK market. We have seen the FTSE Global Mid Cap and FTSE Global Small Cap indices outperform their large cap counterparts over the last couple of years.”

An end of day value for the FTSE 250 index is available at http://www.ftse.com/indices_marketdata/uk_series/values.jsp