Financial Indicators: Key Economic Indicators

FTSE

The FTSE-100 tracks the share-prices of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2020, the index fell dramatically, as global share prices fell amid fears of the impact of the coronavirus, closing at 4,994 on 23 March 2020, its lowest level since October 2011. More recently, the FTSE has generally been on an upward trend and has hit a series of record highs in February 2023, closing above 8,000 for the first time on 16 February. 

Brent Crude Oil

The price of Brent crude oil reached an all-time high above $145/barrel in July 2008. The price fell dramatically in 2020, owing to a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, falling to $19.31 in April 2020, its lowest level since February 2002. The price reached $127/barrel on 8 March 2022, its highest since June 2008. In December 2022, the price fell to $77/barrel, its lowest level since December 2021.

Gold Price

The nominal price of gold exceeded $1,800/ounce for the first time in August 2011, but the metal’s price has since moderated considerably, falling to $1,049/ounce in December 2015. Despite some turbulence following the coronavirus outbreak, the price rose rising steadily from mid-2020 and passed $2,000/ounce for the first time in August 2020, closing at a record high of $2,067/ounce on 7 August. On 9 March 2022, it passed $2,000/ounce for the first time since August 2020, though generally fell for the remainder of 2022, reaching $1,631/ounce in October 2022, its lowest level since April 2020. In April 2023, the price returned above $2,000/ounce for the first time in 13 months.