FTSE 100 and Wall Street Hit Record Highs as Apple Reaches $4 Trillion Milestone
Global stock markets surged to fresh highs on Tuesday, with both the FTSE 100 and major US indices setting new records amid improving sentiment around trade relations and expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
In London, the FTSE 100 climbed 0.5% to 9,698.4, after touching a new intra-day record of 9,715.22, buoyed by strength in commodities and financials.
Across the Atlantic, Wall Street opened at record levels, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all rising between 0.3% and 0.7%.
The spotlight was firmly on Apple, whose share price gained around 1% to $269.86, propelling the tech giant’s market capitalisation above $4 trillion for the first time in history. The company is set to report quarterly results on Thursday, following Microsoft, which has reclaimed a $4.06 trillion valuation ahead of its own earnings announcement tomorrow.
Other major tech players, including Alphabet (Google), Amazon, and Meta (Facebook and Instagram), are also scheduled to release results this week, adding to the anticipation driving market momentum.
Investor optimism has been underpinned by signs of easing trade tensions and growing confidence that the Federal Reserve will move to cut interest rates at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, further fuelling the rally across global equity markets.
