FTSE 100 overview
The FTSE 100 tracks the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange by market capitalisation. It is heavily weighted toward multinationals — over 70% of FTSE 100 revenue comes from outside the UK — which makes the index strongly negatively correlated with GBP (a weaker pound boosts FTSE constituents’ foreign earnings).
Sector composition is dominated by energy (Shell, BP), pharmaceuticals (AstraZeneca, GSK), miners (Rio Tinto, Anglo American), and banks (HSBC, Barclays).
What moves FTSE 100
- GBP/USD — inverse correlation, –0.4 to –0.6 typical
- BoE policy — rate decisions, Inflation Report
- Oil prices — direct correlation (energy + mining weight)
- Global commodity prices — copper, iron ore (mining constituents)
- US session open — FTSE follows US equity direction in the overlap
Typical spread
FTSE 100 CFDs quote at 0.8–2.0 points during European session, 3.0–6.0 points outside European hours.