Datastream classifies each company by industry (that is, its primary activity only). Equities with the same industrial classification are grouped into sectors. Datastream industrial classifications exist at six levels:
Market data - see below
Non-financials
Non-financials, excluding resources
Resources
Financials
Resources
Basic industries
Cyclical consumer goods
Non-cyclical consumer goods
Cyclical services
Non-cyclical services
Utilities
Information technology
Financials
Comprising up to 39 sectors, based on the FTSE Actuaries system
Comprising up to 11 FTSE Actuaries sub-sectors. Various level 4 sectors are broken down at this level into more detailed descriptions used by the London Stock Exchange
Level 6 groups have been devised by Datastream where we believe that more detailed descriptions than those provided at levels 4 and 5 are appropriate
Equities are classified at the most detailed level appropriate. They are classified by main activity according to the sector definitions published by the FTSE Actuaries.
At levels 4, 5 and 6, the number of sectors and sub-sectors will vary over time.