The Financial Times has relaunched the FT30 index, a performance measure of the UK's leading companies. The index celebrates its 90th anniversary in July, having first been compiled in 1935 by the newspaper’s then editor and chief leader writer. The FT30 is the oldest continuous equity index in the UK and one of the oldest in the world.
The FT30 is based on the geometric average share prices of 30 British companies from a wide range of industries, and was designed to “test the feel and changing moods of the equity market”. The FT’s editor, together with the financial and statistics editors, decide the composition of the index’s constituents, choosing new entrants in the case of delisting or takeovers. Wilshire Indexes is responsible for calculating the index.
FT director of strategic partnerships James Lamont said: “At a time when policymakers are wrestling with decisions about how to stimulate economic growth and investment in the UK, the FT30 is once again relevant for its role monitoring the performance of the UK domestic economy. With its unique long view that reflects market movements linked to events like the fall of France in the second world war, the Cuban missile crisis and miners' strike, the FT30 is a key barometer of market sentiment over the decades and tells the story of the changing shape of British business.”
Wilshire Indexes CEO Mark Makepeace said: “The FT 30 Index holds a unique place in financial history. As one of the world’s oldest equity indexes, it has tracked the evolution of the UK’s industrial and commercial landscape for nearly a century. Wilshire Indexes is proud to partner with the Financial Times as its calculation agent, ensuring this historic index continues to serve today’s market participants.”
Elroy Dimson, professor of finance at Cambridge Judge Business School and honorary fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, said: “The FT 30 isn’t just a historical artefact, it’s a record of how markets evolve. Launched in 1935, it captured the pulse of an industrial Britain long before broad benchmarks took hold. Yet its value endures, reminding us that while economies transform, the principles of long-term investment remain constant. With Wilshire Indexes now calculating the index, its legacy continues, providing global market participants with a direct link between past and present, reinforcing its role in understanding market shifts over time.”
The FT30 predates the FTSE 100 launched in 1984 and the UK Actuaries Series launched in 1962. It is a key measure of investment sentiment. Only food ingredients company Tate & Lyle Group remains from the original list in 1935.
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Notes
The FT30 Index is published by the Financial Times for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a benchmark for any financial instruments, products, or strategies, and should not be relied upon for investment or valuation purposes. The Financial Times does not authorise, endorse, or permit the use of the FT30 Index as a benchmark within the meaning of applicable financial regulations, including the UK Benchmark Regulation. Any unauthorised use of the FT30 Index for benchmarking purposes is strictly prohibited. The Financial Times makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the FT30 Index or the data contained therein. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Financial Times accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from any use of, or reliance on, the FT30 Index.
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