Investment - Articles - FTSE 100 poised for record end to 2025

“Miners have once again done a lot of the heavy lifting, with Fresnillo leading the way, and Airtel Africa also enjoyed a last-minute surge. Both stocks have experienced a stratospheric rise in 2025 and considering both the ongoing demand for gold and silver and an increasing need for connectivity in emerging markets, investors will be hoping for more fair weather in 2026.

“The global nature of the inhabitants of London’s top-flight index has helped it avoid the doldrums which have held back the more domestically focused FTSE 250 – although even it was experiencing that end of year phenomenon often referred to as a ‘Santa rally’ today.

“Investors have been looking beyond the usual suspects for value and diversification as the US dollar came under pressure and the world continued to be beset with geopolitical turmoil and fears of an AI bubble. An indication that further interest rate cuts are on the cards in the US could enable Wall Street to find a higher gear and minutes from the Fed’s last meeting of the year should also shed some light on that.

“But after that Liberation Day dip which now feels so long ago, European markets have delivered a strong annual performance and today’s surge should help maintain that momentum into the new year.”