UK’s FTSE 100 Closes Above Ten Thousand Points for First Time on Mining and Defence Strength
London’s benchmark index reaches a historic milestone reflecting robust gains in commodity and defence stocks and sustained investor confidence
London’s flagship share index, the FTSE 100, closed above the ten thousand point mark for the first time on Monday, extending the UK market’s strong momentum from a stellar 2025 into the new year.
The blue-chip index rose to just over ten thousand, driven by broad gains across mining and defence sectors that reflected sustained commodity price strength and renewed geopolitical risk appetite among investors after recent global developments.
Precious metal miners and defence firms recorded notable advances, underpinning the index’s advance even as energy stocks remained relatively subdued.
This milestone capped what has been one of the FTSE 100’s best performances in recent history, building on substantial annual gains tied to elevated metal prices, solid demand for defence equipment, and expectations of supportive monetary policy from the Bank of England.
The milestone followed robust sector performances: major mining houses saw their valuations boosted by firm gold and silver markets, while defence companies benefited from heightened international security spending and elevated order backlogs.
The rally in mining and defence helped offset mixed results in other sectors, with some domestically oriented stocks trailing the broader market.
Market strategists noted that the FTSE’s international orientation and heavy exposure to hard assets made it particularly attractive to global investors seeking diversification beyond technology-heavy indices elsewhere.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves described the breakthrough as a “vote of confidence in Britain’s economic prospects,” highlighting the symbolic importance of the ten thousand level for both domestic and overseas investor sentiment heading into the year ahead.
The blue-chip index rose to just over ten thousand, driven by broad gains across mining and defence sectors that reflected sustained commodity price strength and renewed geopolitical risk appetite among investors after recent global developments.
Precious metal miners and defence firms recorded notable advances, underpinning the index’s advance even as energy stocks remained relatively subdued.
This milestone capped what has been one of the FTSE 100’s best performances in recent history, building on substantial annual gains tied to elevated metal prices, solid demand for defence equipment, and expectations of supportive monetary policy from the Bank of England.
The milestone followed robust sector performances: major mining houses saw their valuations boosted by firm gold and silver markets, while defence companies benefited from heightened international security spending and elevated order backlogs.
The rally in mining and defence helped offset mixed results in other sectors, with some domestically oriented stocks trailing the broader market.
Market strategists noted that the FTSE’s international orientation and heavy exposure to hard assets made it particularly attractive to global investors seeking diversification beyond technology-heavy indices elsewhere.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves described the breakthrough as a “vote of confidence in Britain’s economic prospects,” highlighting the symbolic importance of the ten thousand level for both domestic and overseas investor sentiment heading into the year ahead.
