The London stock market is closing out its strongest year since the aftermath of the global financial crisis at record levels.
2025 has been an exceptional year for the FTSE 100. The UK’s blue-chip index has risen by more than 21% since the start of January, putting it on course for its best annual performance since 2009.
On Monday, the index finished at a new record closing high of 9,940 points, after briefly touching an intraday peak of 9,954, as a burst of late “Santa rally” enthusiasm swept through the City.
This year’s gains have been led by mining stocks, precious metals producers, defence companies and banks, against a backdrop of surging gold prices and a weaker US dollar.
Unusually, London has outperformed Wall Street, where the S&P 500 has risen around 17% over the year.
London stocks nudge higher in year-end session.
The FTSE 100 has opened slightly higher on the final trading day of 2025, adding 9 points, or almost 0.1%, to trade at 9,949, edging back towards yesterday’s intraday record.
Vodafone is the top riser in early dealings, up 0.8%, followed by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which is 0.6% higher. Drinks group Diageo is also firmer, up 0.5%, despite having lost around a third of its value this year after weak sales and supply issues in Latin America.
