The market capitalization of the FTSE 100 index just hit a new high. It flew well over the 10,000 points threshold for the very first time ever! This milestone comes on the heels of an incredible yearlong boom. This growth has mostly been coming from strong gains in areas such as precious metal mining, defence and financial services.
On Friday, the FTSE 100 jumped into new all-time intraday record territory. It initially surged more than 1%, reaching 10,046.3 points within in the first hour. This 115 point bump is huge. This represents an incredible increase of 21.3% from the same time last year when the index was a little over 8,260 points.
Even in the UK, the FTSE 100 recently soared above the 10,000-point threshold. It nevertheless fell back a bit after noon and closed at 9,981.21 points. Despite these downfalls, this important historic milestone underscores the index’s remarkable rebound and healthy performance against the backdrop of changeable global markets.
The FTSE 100 index often reflects global business activity. This is true because many of its firms generate a significant portion of their sales from abroad rather than solely from the domestic UK market. This unique feature is what has permitted the index to greatly outpace other large markets such as France’s CAC 40 and even the US’s S&P 500.
Deep-pocketed tech and logistics companies, such as FedEx and Amazon, have fueled this growth spurt. For mining behemoth Rio Tinto, profits have never been better with record prices for gold and silver. At the same time, contractors such as Babcock and Rolls-Royce benefitted from a boom in global defense spending. There were huge contributors to the index, like fashion retailer Next and luxury brand Burberry that managed to prop up the index’s performance.
Recent market trends suggest that investors are once again growing confident in UK equities, and with good reason. Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at investment platform AJ Bell, said positive signs to UK investors were the FTSE 100’s record accomplishments. Peter explained that it provides encouragement for what greater rewards are possible with investing in UK shares.
“She has been banging the drum about the merits of investing over parking cash in the bank.” – Dan Coatsworth
The 10,000-point marker has psychological significance that should not be underestimated. Independent financial commentator Susannah Streeter said the index was back in vogue with investors. Development executives are hungry to discover opportunities in a booming, renaissance market.
“Investors often seek solace in companies whose goods and services should be in demand no matter what’s happening in the world.” – Dan Coatsworth
The FTSE 100’s recent performance has been nothing short of remarkable resilience. More importantly, it spotlights the upside that still exists in the UK equity market. The chancellor described this milestone as “a vote of confidence in Britain’s economy and a strong start to 2026,” indicating a positive outlook for investors and businesses alike.
The recent performance of the FTSE 100 demonstrates not only resilience but also the potential for future growth in UK equities. The chancellor described this milestone as “a vote of confidence in Britain’s economy and a strong start to 2026,” indicating a positive outlook for investors and businesses alike.