UK market milestone: FTSE 100 crosses 10,000 for first time; global equity rally carries into 2026

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index crossed the 10,000-point mark for the first time on Friday, scaling a fresh all-time high on the opening trading day of 2026, extending the strong momentum built over the past year.In early deals, the UK’s top-tier index — home to heavyweights such as BP, Vodafone and HSBC — rose 1.0 per cent to 10,033.75 points, marking a historic milestone for the London stock market, according to AFP.The rally follows a standout performance in 2025, when the FTSE 100 surged more than 21 per cent, its strongest annual gain in 16 years, supported by interest rate cuts in Britain and easing borrowing costs in the US as global inflation pressures receded.Gains on Friday were led in part by Fresnillo, with the gold miner’s shares continuing their advance after soaring 436 per cent in 2025, fuelled by repeated record highs in gold prices.The FTSE’s breakthrough mirrors a broader global trend, with stock markets worldwide hitting all-time peaks last year, delivering double-digit gains across major indices as monetary conditions eased and investor risk appetite strengthened.