U.K.’s FTSE 100 index paused near record levels in the final stretch of 2025 on Thursday, looking to wrap up its strongest annual gain in 16 years in a shortened trading session.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 was about flat by 0902 GMT after closing at a record level a day earlier. The domestically focused midcap index dipped 0.3 per cent.
Trading activity was muted with markets expected to close at half past noon ahead of the New Year holiday on Jan. 1.
After years of underperformance, Britain’s blue‑chip FTSE 100 is set to outpace major global markets in 2025, lifted by expectations of further Bank of England rate cuts, strength in financials and miners and its appeal as a relatively cheap diversifier during bouts of global volatility.
The index rose more than 21 per cent over the year, heading for a fifth straight annual gain and its strongest performance since 2009. By comparison, the pan‑European STOXX 600 gained 16.6 per cent and the U.S. S&P 500 climbed 17.2 per cent.
Earlier in December, the BoE delivered its fourth 25‑basis‑point cut of the year in a narrow vote, while signaling the already gradual pace of easing may slow further.
The resources‑heavy FTSE 100 drew support from miners Fresnillo, Endeavor Mining and Antofagasta, which advanced on the back of surging gold, silver and copper prices this year.
In contrast, Bunzl and Diageo tumbled around 37 per cent each, leaving the business supplies distributor and the world’s largest spirits maker among the index’s biggest laggards.
(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
