The Footsie's Big Year: How the FTSE 100 Smashed Through 10,000 for the First Time

London's stock market has been quietly having one of its best years in memory. The FTSE 100, the index of Britain's largest listed companies, has broken records that once seemed a distant ambition, defying a backdrop of global uncertainty.

Through a historic barrier

The headline achievement came early and kept building. The FTSE 100 is reported to have surpassed the 10,000-point mark for the first time in its history, crossing that psychological threshold on the very first trading day of 2026.

From there the records kept coming. By late July the index is reported to have pushed well beyond that level, touching a fresh all-time intraday high close to 10,979 points as the rally gathered real momentum.

On that day the gains were broad and firm. The blue-chip index is reported to have risen around 0.58 percent to about 10,972 points, comfortably clearing the previous record set only a day earlier.

What is powering the rise

The strength has not come from a single corner of the market. Investors are reported to have poured money into mining, aerospace, industrial and energy stocks, a rotation toward the kind of solid, value-oriented sectors that define the London index.

Defence has been one of the standout stories. Defence stocks are reported to have led gains on the back of strong earnings, with BAE Systems said to have risen around 4 percent after reporting higher revenue, orders and profit.

The miners have added their own muscle. As metals prices climbed, Glencore is reported to have advanced around 2.6 percent, with Antofagasta and Anglo American each said to have gained more than 1 percent on the day.

Precious metals producers joined the party too. Gold miners such as Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining are reported to have edged higher as the price of gold and other precious metals firmed up.

London back in favour

For years the London market was seen as a laggard, and this run marks a notable change in mood. The FTSE 100 is reported to have outperformed many international markets in recent sessions, drawing fresh attention from investors.

Several currents have combined to lift it. Rising oil prices, resilient corporate earnings and renewed demand for value-oriented shares are reported to have supported the market, a mix that plays to London's traditional strengths.

Can the run last

The obvious question is how long the good times can roll. Records are exhilarating but they raise the bar, and a market trading at all-time highs has further to fall if the mood among investors were to sour.

For now, though, the tone is confident. After years in the shadow of flashier rivals, London's blue chips are enjoying their moment in the sun, and 2026 has already earned its place in the index's long history.