How a pink newspaper became the world's most influential guide to global business

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Financial Times is instantly recognizable by its salmon-colored pages, but its history is defined by more than just aesthetics. Born from a 1945 merger of two rival publications, it evolved into a global powerhouse of economic liberalism, shaping the discourse of the world's most powerful financial decision-makers.

Founded in 1888 as the London Financial Guide, the paper rebranded as the Financial Times just one month later. Its signature light-pink tint, adopted in 1893, was originally a cost-saving measure—the paper was sourced from the Bodelva clay pit in Cornwall, and bleaching it was an unnecessary expense. Today, the color is a deliberate, expensive branding choice that distinguishes the FT from its competitors. The modern iteration of the publication emerged after a 1945 merger with the Financial News, a deal orchestrated by Brendan Bracken, who is widely considered the founding father of the modern paper.

The FT’s editorial identity is rooted in economic liberalism, consistently advocating for free trade and free markets. This stance has influenced its political endorsements, which have shifted over the decades. While it supported the Conservative Party for much of the post-war era, it backed the Labour Party between 1992 and 2010 as the Conservatives moved toward Euroscepticism. In 2019, the paper famously declined to endorse any party, citing a lack of viable options, before returning to support Labour in 2024. Its newsroom remains independent from its editorial board, maintaining a reputation as a newspaper of record.

Beyond its political influence, the FT has pioneered digital transformation in journalism. It was one of the first UK news sites to successfully implement a metered paywall in 2007, and by 2012, digital subscribers outnumbered print readers. The paper’s reach is significant; it is considered the most important business read for senior financial decision-makers globally, outperforming rivals like The Wall Street Journal. Its investigative work, such as the 2019 series exposing fraud at the German payments group Wirecard, demonstrates its commitment to rigorous financial journalism, even when facing legal and market pressure.

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