economy

January 2, 2026

European shares close higher as tech leads gains; Britain’s FTSE 100 touches 10,000 points for first time

Britain's FTSE 100 index on Friday briefly surpassed the symbolic 10,000 points marker for the first time, extending gains after a bumper 2025.

European shares close higher as tech leads gains; Britain’s FTSE 100 touches 10,000 points for first time

TL;DR

  • FTSE 100 index briefly surpassed 10,000 points for the first time.
  • The FTSE 100 ended the first trading day of the year 0.2% higher at 9,951.
  • The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed about 0.6% higher.
  • The Stoxx 600 index rose 16.7% in 2025.
  • Orsted shares rose 4.6% after challenging a U.S. government suspension.
  • Be Semiconductor and ASMI shares rose significantly after a U.S. license was granted to TSMC.
  • Mining and defense stocks were top performers.
  • Spot gold prices rose 1.9% to $4,393.14 per ounce.
  • Spot silver prices jumped over 4.3% to $74.31 per ounce.
  • Gold and silver had their best annual performances since 1979 last year.
  • South Korea's Kospi climbed to a new record.
  • U.S. stocks traded largely flat.

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