Godber Says Investors Eye FTSE 100, Which Had 2% AI Exposure

George Godber of Polar Capital said investors have shown interest in U.K. equities during technology sell-offs. The FTSE 100 had about 2% direct exposure to AI-related companies, giving it a different profile from technology-heavy benchmarks.

That 2% figure measures direct exposure to AI-related companies. It is not the same as the broader technology-sector share of an index, so those measures should not be compared as if they were alike.

The FTSE 100 is weighted toward financials, energy, mining and consumer staples. That mix can limit its direct exposure to AI-related companies, but the index remains exposed to interest-rate changes, commodity swings and the broader economic cycle.

During July’s semiconductor sell-off, the Nasdaq 100 entered correction territory while the FTSE 100 climbed to a record 10,951. The U.K. index also held up comparatively well in early November as U.S. political worries and concerns over AI spending weighed on technology-heavy markets. The FTSE 100 moved above 10,800 on Nov. 4.

Polar Capital Technology Trust, which has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, posted a 102.2% net asset value total return for the year ended April 30, 2026. Net asset value reflects what the trust’s underlying holdings are worth, so the return measures the performance of its portfolio.