FTSE 100 hits 10,000 mark for first time as UK sees New Year’s rally
The FTSE 100 index has climbed above 10,000 points for the first time, an auspicious start on the first trading day of the year.
The Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 – informally known as the “Footsie” – is comprised of the hundred most valuable companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Passing the threshold means the UK-based exchange is more than 21% higher than a year ago, when it stood at just over 8,260.
The news comes after London recorded its strongest year for IPOs since 2021. The London Stock Exchange saw £1.9 billion raised from 11 IPOs this year, marking its strongest year since 2021, data from PwC shows.
Q4 saw a flurry of activity with fintech company Shawbrook and consumer company Princes Group pricing their IPOs at the end of October for £348 million and £400 million respectively.
Other equity market activity saw the demergers of global mining company Valterra Platinum and Magnum Ice Cream Company, new listings of Metlen Energy & Metals and AIM to Main Market move-ups, rights issues and Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) transactions contributing to the rebound in London’s equity markets.
The three-year stamp duty holiday on shares in new UK IPOs, announced in the Chancellor’s Budget last month, is widely seen as a positive step aimed at boosting the London IPO market.
“London has delivered its strongest year for IPO and listing activity since 2021. In 2025, a total of £1.9 billion in proceeds was raised through 11 IPOs, with £1.3 billion of proceeds raised in the final quarter demonstrating growing momentum,” said Vhernie Manickavasagar, UK IPO Leader at PwC UK.
“In addition, global multi-billion-pound companies selected the London Stock Exchange for their international listings in 2025, the largest of which had a market capitalisation of £16 billion in December 2025. These developments underscore the resurgence of London’s capital markets and its returning appeal as a leading listing destination.
“Looking ahead, momentum is set to continue into 2026, with a robust pipeline of large-cap IPOs expected across the Consumer, Financial Services, and TMT sectors.”
