The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 market index hit a record high for the first time ever and soared above 10,000 points.
The blue-chip index on Friday morning hit an all-time high and rose 0.8% at the time of writing to 10,018.5 in the first hour of trading.
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell said, “It’s time to break out the champagne as UK stock markets have delivered a New Year’s treat.
The FTSE 100 hit the 10,000 jackpot level immediately after rounding off a tremendous year for UK shares. This is a historic moment and already makes 2026 one of the most significant years for the blue-chip index since its launch in 1984.
Breaking through the 10,000 level is the best New Year’s present Chancellor Rachel Reeves could want.
She has been banging the drum about the merits of investing over parking cash in the bank, and the FTSE 100’s achievements just go to show what’s possible when buying UK shares.
“It also proves to cynics that the UK market is not stuck in the mud, and that the US stock market is not the only place to make money.
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said, “Miners have once again done a lot of the heavy lifting, with Fresnillo leading the way, and Airtel Africa also enjoyed a last-minute surge.
Both stocks have experienced a stratospheric rise in 2025 and considering both the ongoing demand for gold and silver and an increasing need for connectivity in emerging markets, investors will be hoping for more fair weather in 2026.
The global nature of the inhabitants of London’s top-flight index has helped it avoid the doldrums which have held back the more domestically focused FTSE 250 – although even it was experiencing that end of year phenomenon often referred to as a ‘Santa rally’ today.
