FTSE 100 breaks through 10,000 for first time as London equities start 2026 strongly

Mace | 2nd January 2026 | Policy & Think Tanks, Politics
Paternoster_Square

The FTSE 100 surpasses 10,000 for the first time, reflecting strong gains in commodities, defence and financial stocks.

The FTSE 100 index hit the 10,000 mark for the first time on 2 January 2026, crossing the milestone during early London trading as UK equities began the new year on a strong footing. The benchmark index moved above the level after a year of sustained gains, marking a symbolic moment for a market that has often lagged behind major global peers. The move followed a rally that saw the index rise by around twenty two per cent over 2025, its strongest annual performance in more than a decade. The milestone came as global equity markets opened 2026 with broad optimism. European shares advanced in early trading, supported by positive sentiment around economic resilience in the United States and easing concerns over monetary policy tightening. Investors returning after the holiday period pushed several major indices higher, with London benefiting from strong performances in heavyweight sectors. Mining and energy stocks were among the leading contributors to the FTSE 100’s rise. Companies linke...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Bound by country and religion

Damian Collins MP | January 22, 2021

As the torch passes to the second Irish Catholic president, how do Joe Biden and JFK compare, asks Damian Collins

Protected: The Oldie Regime

Liz Emerson | January 21, 2021

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

The death throes of the Trump presidency

Brooks Newmark | January 10, 2021

The last days of Trump have seen the US descend into chaos amid riots and the invasion of the Capitol building in Washington, but it's not the last

Martyr in the Cathedral

William Cash | January 5, 2021

Why Thomas Becket’s murder 850 years ago remains a cautionary tale for special advisers today, says William Cash

Thomas Becket Canterbury Cathedral

MP’s surgeries get an upgrade

Josh Dell | November 26, 2020

Virtual MP's surgeries are less strenuous and less time-consuming than their face-to-face equivalents. Josh Dell hails the benefits of their digitisation

Put the Donald in the Dock, says Anthony Scaramucci

Anthony Scaramucci | November 25, 2020

In 60 days, America should prosecute the outgoing president for the atrocities of his time in office, argues Anthony Scaramucci (Trump’s former head of communications), Alan Blotcky and

The End of ‘Domocracy’ at No 10

Peter Cardwell | November 15, 2020

Dominic Cummings's departure from Downing Street gives Boris Johnson the chance to reshuffle his team on more democratic lines, says former SpAd Peter Cardwell

Dominic Cummings Special

The Cummings Legacy Is Not What The Pundits Think

William Cash | November 14, 2020

As Dominic Cummings leaves Downing Street for the last time, William Cash notes that his legacy will extend far beyond his own disruption of Whitehall

Dominic Cummings Special

The 2017 Campaign Exposed the Real Theresa May

Benjamin Goodwin | October 8, 2020

May at 10, by Sir Anthony Seldon, reviewed by Benjamin Goodwin

Has Covid killed the party conference?

Marie Le Conte | October 6, 2020

Marie Le Conte