FTSE 100 hits 10,000 mark for first time

What’s Happening

Listen up: A rally on the first trading day of the new year has taken London’s main share index through the milestone.

FTSE 100 hits 10,000 mark for first time 19 hours ago Save Pritti Mistry , Business reporter and Theo Leggett , International business correspondent Save Alamy The FTSE 100 index has climbed above 10,000 points for the first time, passing a significant stock market milestone, on the first trading day of the year. S included in the index performed strongly in 2025, leaving the benchmark more than 21% higher than a year ago, when it stood at just over 8,260. (yes, really)

It set a new all-time record reaching 10,046 points before dropping back and closing the day at 9951.

The Details

Despite much talk of high stock valuations in the US over the past year, the London index outperformed the major American indexes in 2025. S in British brands such as Currys and Next rose steeply alongside gains for precious metal miners, defence and financial services companies.

The FTSE 100 tracks the performance of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. A big rise is good news for investors, including anyone with a pension or other savings that are invested in the stock market, but is not a direct measure of the UK economys performance.

Why This Matters

Many of the constituent companies have large overseas operations as well as a UK presence, and around three quarters of the revenues of the FTSE 100 firms is generated abroad. In 2025 rising gold and silver prices boosted firms such as Rio Tinto, while increased global defence spending lifted contractors including Babcock and Rolls-Royce - amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. The British benchmark index set a new all-time intraday record as trading resumed after the new year holiday, rising more than 1% within the first hour to reach 10,046 points - up 115 from its previous level, before falling back below the threshold.

Market watchers are paying close attention to developments like this.

The Bottom Line

The British benchmark index set a new all-time intraday record as trading resumed after the new year holiday, rising more than 1% within the first hour to reach 10,046 points - up 115 from its previous level, before falling back below the threshold. The brief episode of trade above 10,000 followed twelve months of staggered rises.

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