In a fast moving world, individuals and organisations need to make quick decisions based on sound judgement supported by accurate data. As a result, one of the most important products in the modern world is reliable, up-to-date information. Governments, businesses and individuals all depend on it. This is particularly true for companies working in the financial markets. The markets provide a range of investment opportunities offering varying returns. Individual investors and financial institutions need to compare alternative opportunities in order to make the ‘best possible decisions’ about purchasing and holding financial securities. They also need to know that the financial securities they hold meet their individual investment criteria e.g. for high growth rates, low risk, or only in reputable, socially responsible companies. This case study examines the work of FTSE Group, one of the world’s best-known data providers. FTSE manages over 20,000 financial indices including its best known product: the FTSE 100. This case study focuses on one of FTSE’s key index series, the FTSE4Good Index Series. Through the setting of criteria for companies to gain entry to these indices, FTSE has played a significant role in the debate over corporate responsibility and encouraged companies to consider their obligation to…
