FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Tops 10,000 Level

On the inaugural trading day of 2026, the FTSE 100 experienced a notable increase of approximately 1%, surpassing the historic 10,000-point mark for the first time ever. This upward trend was propelled by the robust performance of defense stocks, indicative of sustained investor interest in the sector after a successful previous year. Notably, Rolls-Royce surged by 3.4%, while BAE Systems and Babcock International recorded gains of 2.5% and 2.4%, respectively. Additionally, the mining and energy sectors excelled, buoyed by elevated commodity prices. Fresnillo saw a 2.8% rise, Glencore increased by 2.2%, Anglo American moved up by 2%, and Antofagasta progressed by 1.8%. Furthermore, energy giants Shell and BP experienced upticks of 1.4% and 1.7%, respectively. This favorable commencement of the year follows an outstanding 2025 for the UK benchmark, which witnessed a remarkable increase of 21.6%, the highest annual gain since 2009.