Europe Asia News

The FTSE 100, which includes the UK’s most valuable blue-chip companies, rose 0.5% to trade at 9,981 points, starting the first trading day of the year on a positive note. Before trimming gains, the index surpassed the 10,000 mark.

Analysts said the pace of the FTSE 100’s climb toward 10,000 late last year was striking, but cautioned investors to remain vigilant. “Crossing a large round number is psychologically important, but the fundamentals must be solid so the new level becomes a base rather than a ceiling for the index,” they said.

Meanwhile, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.5%, with most sectors and major exchanges in the green. The moves came as investors returned from the New Year holiday on Thursday and on the back of strong annual gains. In 2025, the Stoxx 600 climbed about 16%, supported by banking stocks and higher regional defense spending, marking a third consecutive year of gains.

Looking at individual stocks, shares of Danish energy group Orsted—the world’s largest offshore wind farm developer—rose 3.6% after the company said it would challenge the U.S. government’s suspension of the lease for the Revolution Wind joint venture and seek a court ruling.

After the U.S. government granted the world’s largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, an annual license to import U.S. chipmaking equipment for its facilities in Nanjing, China, Dutch semiconductor equipment makers Be Semiconductor and ASMI led the index higher with gains of 9.6% and 6.1%, respectively.

Their larger rival ASML, Europe’s most valuable company, rose 4%. Mining and defense stocks were also among the top performers, with Thyssenkrupp, Kongsberg Group, Saab and Rolls-Royce gaining at least 3% in morning trade.

Meanwhile, precious metals continued their upward trend from last year. Spot gold prices rose 1.9% in European hours to $4,393.14 per ounce, while spot silver jumped more than 4.3% to $74.31 per ounce. Gold and silver posted their best annual performances since 1979, supported by U.S. rate cuts, tariff tensions, and strong demand from ETFs and central banks.

In Asia-Pacific, South Korea’s Kospi index hit a new record, while other markets—including Japan and mainland China—remained closed for holidays. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures advanced, with S&P, Nasdaq-100 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures last up between 0.4% and 1.1%.