Financial news is information about events and issues related to the finance world, which is generally disseminated by print, broadcast television or the Internet. In particular, it refers to the reporting of stock market movements, economic reports, and political developments. It can be a useful source of insight for those interested in investing and trading.
The Financial Times (often abbreviated as FT) is a British newspaper founded in 1888. It was originally a rival to the London Financial Guide and Financial News, but merged with them in 1945 after half a century of competition. The FT has an extensive international presence and its headquarters are located in the city of London in Bracken House at 1 Friday Street.
The FT’s editorial stance centres on economic liberalism, especially advocating free markets and globalisation. During the 1980s it supported Margaret Thatcher’s monetarist policies, and it has been described as centrist to centre-right in its political positions.
In addition to general news and analysis, the FT features editorial comment, business commentary, opinion columns and articles on politics and society. It also includes book reviews, readers’ letters and technology articles. The paper is known for its light-pink newsprint, and has a distinctive style and design. It is a weekly publication and is supplemented by the FT Weekend edition and a range of lifestyle and industry publications.
The FT also publishes several financial indices. The best-known is the FTSE 100 index for shares, which is closely watched by investors worldwide. The FTSE 350 and FTSE SmallCap indices for mid-cap and smaller companies, and the FTSE UK Gilt Indexes for government bonds are also well known.