London’s FTSE 100 crossed the 10,000-point mark for the first time on Friday, extending a rally that gathered pace throughout last year and carried into the opening trading session of 2026.
In early dealings on the first trading day of the year, the UK’s blue-chip index, which includes companies such as BP, Vodafone and HSBC, rose by around 1.0 percent to a record high of 10,033.75 points.
Strong gains carried over from 2025
The FTSE 100 closed 2025 with gains of more than 21 percent, marking its strongest annual performance in 16 years. The rally was driven largely by falling interest rates in the United Kingdom, alongside easing borrowing costs in the United States as global inflationary pressures receded.
Rate cuts by the Federal Reserve also supported investor sentiment globally, contributing to a broad-based rise in equity markets across major economies.
Friday’s milestone was further supported by another sharp rise in shares of gold miner Fresnillo. The company’s stock surged last year by around 436 percent, tracking a strong rally in gold prices that saw the precious metal reach multiple record highs.
Global markets at record levels
Stock markets worldwide hit historic highs last year, translating into double-digit gains across many indices in 2025. Analysts point to a combination of easing inflation, looser monetary policy and resilient corporate earnings as key drivers behind the sustained momentum.
Source: The Guardian, Reuters