A financial news publication is a newspaper or online media outlet that covers business, economics, and politics. In the context of investing, such publications can provide useful information about how investors should position their portfolios, as well as about new investment opportunities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that financial news often reports on the movement of groups of stocks—or even entire markets—and less about the price movements of individual companies’ shares. For example, a news article that states “the stock market was up 120 points today” does not tell you much about the price of Apple’s shares.
The FT’s editorial stance centres on economic liberalism, and has historically supported liberal democracy and policies from international governments that are classically liberal. It has also tended to be pro-European. In the 1980s, it endorsed Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan’s monetarist policies. The FT has also been strongly opposed to wars and militarism, and has campaigned for globalisation.
In addition to its print and online editions, the FT publishes a range of additional products including books, a weekly lifestyle magazine (FT Weekend), podcasts and a variety of industry publications. FT Weekend includes international political and economic news, a Business section and features on culture and lifestyle. In the past, the FT ran a game called FT Money where readers could buy and sell virtual shares in fictional FT Dollars to win real monetary prizes. The FT also has an associated company, FT Knowledge, which offers educational products and services, such as the “Introducing the City” course, seminars and webinars.