The FTSE 100 rose above 10,000 points for the first time on the first trading day of 2026, reaching 10,046 points before easing back slightly. The blue-chip index, which tracks the largest 100 companies on the London Stock Exchange, had closed 2025 at 9,931.38 after a strong year.
The milestone comes after the FTSE 100 recorded its best performance since 2009, ending 2025 up 21.5%. Gains were driven by precious metal mining, defence and financial services firms, as well as global political uncertainty and sluggish UK economic growth.
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, called it a 'historic moment' and said it made 2026 one of the most significant years for the index since its launch in 1984. He added that the achievement proved the UK market was not 'stuck in the mud'.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed the news, describing it as 'a vote of confidence in Britain’s economy'. The milestone follows her announcement in the November 2025 Budget that the cash ISA annual limit would be reduced to £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027, as part of efforts to encourage more investment in stocks and shares.
