Britain’s blue-chip stock market has crossed a historic threshold, with the FTSE 100 closing above 10,000 points for the first time ever.
The FTSE 100 ended the session at 10,004 points, up 53 points, or 0.54%, marking a symbolic milestone for London’s largest listed companies.
Mining and defence stocks powered the advance. Copper producer Antofagasta was the standout performer, jumping 5.9% as copper prices surged to record highs. Precious metals group Endeavour Mining gained 5.5%, buoyed by a rush into gold and silver as investors sought safe-haven assets.
Defence firms also featured prominently among the top risers. BAE Systems climbed 5.2%, while Babcock International added 4.6%, reflecting strong investor appetite for the sector amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
The close above 10,000 follows a brief flirtation with the milestone last Friday, when the index hit an intraday record of 10,046 points before retreating. The breakthrough caps a powerful run for the Footsie, which surged more than 20% over the course of 2025, underscoring the scale of the rally that has carried the market into uncharted territory.
European markets powered higher, with Germany’s DAX jumping 1.3% to a fresh record, driven by strong gains in defence stocks.
The rally was broad-based across the continent. The STOXX Europe 600 climbed almost 1%, breaking through the 600-point mark for the first time and setting a new all-time high as investors leaned into cyclical and defence-linked names.
