FTSE Group (FTSE) is a world-leader in the creation and management of over 100,000 equity, bond and alternative asset class indices. With offices in Beijing, London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Boston, Shanghai, Madrid, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Tokyo, FTSE Group works with partners and clients in 77 countries worldwide.

FTSE is an independent company jointly owned by The Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. FTSE does not give financial advice to clients, which allows for the provision of truly objective market information.

FTSE indices are used extensively by a range of investors such as consultants, asset owners, fund managers, investment banks, stock exchanges and brokers. The indices are used for purposes of:

• Investment analysis
• Performance measurement
• Asset allocation
• Portfolio hedging
• Creation of index tracking funds

Independent committees of senior fund managers, derivatives experts, actuaries and other experienced practitioners review and approve all changes to the indexes to ensure that they are made objectively and without bias.

As part of its global community programme, FTSE has worked with the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, since 1997 raising funds to support poverty reduction and basic healthcare programmes for children.