UK100 / FTSE 100: Live Level, Point Values and the Sterling Effect
The FTSE has a quirk no US index shares: most of its revenue is earned abroad, so a falling pound can push the index up. That relationship explains days when the market and the economy seem to disagree.
UK100 is the FTSE 100 index. The futures contract is 10 pounds per point, with CFD point values set by your broker. Its distinctive feature is currency: a large share of constituent revenue is earned overseas, so a weaker pound tends to lift the index even when the domestic economy is weak.
UK 100 (UK100) right now
One point = 1 of price. A standard lot is 1 units at 1 per point, so pip value = pip size × contract size × lots. Figures assume a USD account; confirm the contract size with your broker.
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Open UK100 on the live desk (H1) → See what the desk does →The currency effect
Most FTSE 100 constituents are large multinationals earning in dollars and other currencies. When sterling falls, those foreign earnings are worth more in pounds, which supports the index. This is why the FTSE can rise on a day of poor UK news that is hammering GBP/USD - a correlation worth knowing before you read a rally as optimism.
Point value and composition
| Instrument | Value per point |
|---|---|
| FTSE futures | £10 |
| CFD (UK100) | Broker-set, often £1 |
The index leans towards energy, mining, banks and consumer staples rather than technology, so it behaves less like the Nasdaq and more like a commodity and rates play.
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Play free, no signup →What drives it
- Sterling, through the overseas-earnings channel above.
- Commodity prices, given the weight of energy and mining constituents.
- Bank of England policy and UK fiscal events.
- Global risk sentiment, with a lag to the US session.
Sizing it
The contract is sterling-denominated, so a USD account takes a conversion on top of the point value. Put your stop in points into the tool above and confirm your broker's figure before trading.
How far UK100 actually moves
Measured on the OANDA feed our charting desk runs on, 2026-01-04 to 2026-09-17 (180 completed daily bars). Recalculated every week.
| Average daily range | 133.7 points |
|---|---|
| Median day | 119.1 points |
| Widest day in the window | 379.5 points |
| Quietest day | 47.3 points |
| Average as % of price | 1.275% |
| Widest weekday | Thursday (148.2 points) |
| Busiest hour | 07:00 UTC, about 47.7 points in that hour (quietest 04:00, 13.4) |
The median is the middle day and the average is pulled up by a handful of violent ones, so size a stop against the median and expect the average to flatter you. Full table for every instrument, with the method, on average daily range by pair.
Frequently asked questions
What is one FTSE 100 point worth?
10 pounds on the futures contract; CFD point values are set by your broker and are often 1 pound.
Why does the FTSE rise when the pound falls?
Most constituents earn a large share of revenue abroad, so a weaker pound increases the sterling value of those earnings.
What sectors dominate the FTSE 100?
Energy, mining, banks and consumer staples - much less technology than the US indices.
When is UK100 most active?
The London session, with additional movement after the New York open.
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