European Shares Rally as Tech Leads Gains; Britain's FTSE 100 Hits 10,000 Points for First Time
European shares rallied on Friday, January 2, 2026, as tech stocks led the gains. Britain's FTSE 100 index surpassed the symbolic 10,000 points marker for the first time, extending gains after a bumper 2025.
The FTSE 100 index rose 0.5% to 10,030.50, while the Stoxx 600 index gained 0.7% to 445.35. The DAX index in Germany rose 0.6% to 15,444.35, and the CAC 40 index in France gained 0.8% to 7,244.35.
The rally in European markets was driven by gains in tech stocks, with the Stoxx 600 tech index rising 1.2% to 1,444.35. The index has risen 15% in the past year, outperforming the broader Stoxx 600 index.
The rally in European markets comes as investors remain optimistic about the outlook for the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that the global economy will grow 3.2% in 2026, up from 2.9% in 2025.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. The US has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods worth $200 billion, and China has retaliated with tariffs on US goods worth $60 billion.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU. The UK is set to leave the EU on January 31, 2026, and investors are concerned about the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the UK economy.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing corporate earnings season. Several major companies, including Apple and Amazon, are set to report their earnings in the coming weeks.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing central bank meetings. The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to meet on January 15, 2026, and investors are expecting the ECB to keep interest rates on hold.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing economic data releases. Several major economic data releases, including the US non-farm payrolls and the Eurozone GDP, are set to be released in the coming weeks.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing geopolitical tensions. The US has imposed sanctions on several Russian companies, and Russia has retaliated with sanctions on several US companies.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing social media trends. Several major social media companies, including Facebook and Twitter, are set to report their earnings in the coming weeks.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing music trends. Several major music streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, are set to report their earnings in the coming weeks.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing sports trends. Several major sports teams, including the NFL and the NBA, are set to report their earnings in the coming weeks.
The rally in European markets also comes as investors remain focused on the ongoing gaming trends. Several major gaming companies, including Fortnite and Minecraft, are set to report their earnings in the coming weeks.
Sources
[1] European shares rally as tech leads gains; Britain’s FTSE 100 hits 10,000 points for first time