Why did the FTSE 100 reach 10000 in 2025?

The FTSE 100 reached 10000 due to a strong rally in 2025, led by mining, defense, and old-economy stocks.

What stocks drove the FTSE 100's record performance?

Mining and defense stocks, alongside banks and healthcare companies, were key drivers of the FTSE 100's record performance.

How did the FTSE 100 perform compared to U.S. indexes in 2025?

The FTSE 100's nearly 22% rise in 2025 outperformed the U.S. Nasdaq composite, a top-performing big U.S. index.

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FTSE 100 Tops 10000: Old Economy Stocks Lead Surge

2 Jan

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Summary

FTSE 100 index surpassed 10,000 for the first time.
Index experienced its biggest rally in 16 years in 2025.
Old-economy stocks like banks, miners, and defense drove gains.

FTSE 100 Tops 10000: Old Economy Stocks Lead Surge

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index reached a significant milestone on Friday, January 2, 2026, by briefly surpassing the 10,000 mark for the first time. This achievement caps off a remarkable rally throughout 2025, during which the index saw its most substantial gains in 16 years, outperforming even the U.S. Nasdaq composite.

The impressive rise was largely propelled by shares in mining and defense sectors, with companies like Fresnillo, Endeavour Mining, and Rolls-Royce more than doubling in value. Unlike the U.S. and Asian markets, which have been dominated by flashy artificial-intelligence stocks, the FTSE 100's strength lies in its diverse array of traditional industries.

Analysts attribute the FTSE 100's outperformance to its inclusion of "old-economy" stocks such as banks, miners, defense, and healthcare companies, which investors found attractive due to their relatively low valuations. The index also benefited from rising precious metals prices and increased defense spending commitments across European nations, providing a stable alternative for investors wary of the tech sector.