FTSE 100 Smashes Through 9,000 Mark in Historic Milestone – UK Markets Eye Trade Talks
The FTSE 100 soared into uncharted territory on Tuesday morning, breaking past the 9,000 mark for the very first time. It’s a landmark moment for Britain’s flagship stock index, which briefly touched an intraday peak of 9,016.98 before easing slightly to 8,994.72 by mid-morning.
It’s the kind of milestone that grabs attention—not just in the UK, but across Europe. Investors have latched onto fresh hopes of a breakthrough in trade negotiations between the United States and European Union, brushing off simmering tensions and tariff threats.
Markets in Germany and France also moved higher, though more cautiously. The DAX edged up 0.3%, and the CAC 40 climbed 0.2%. A collective breath of optimism seems to be blowing through European trading floors.
But not every stock rode the high.
Barratt Redrow took a hammering, plunging by 7% following a bleak trading update. That slip dragged fellow housebuilders Persimmon and Berkeley Group lower, casting a shadow over what should have been a day of celebration for the FTSE.
Still, market sentiment remained buoyant.
Investors seemed to shrug off the latest round of tariff warnings from President Donald Trump, who recently threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from both Mexico and the EU.
The bold move, set to begin next month, is seen by many as a high-stakes negotiation tactic rather than a set-in-stone policy.
There’s cautious optimism, yes—but also an undercurrent of nerves.
Adding another layer of anticipation is Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose Mansion House speech is expected to deliver key announcements on UK financial reform later this evening.
“UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver her closely watched Mansion House speech tonight when she is anticipated to outline a series of financial reforms, including measures to improve mortgage access,”
said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor.
Eyes are firmly locked on the Chancellor’s words. Any signals around housing, mortgages, or regulatory changes could rattle—or rally—the very markets that hit new highs just hours earlier.
For now, though, the spotlight remains on the FTSE 100’s symbolic leap.
It’s a proud day for UK markets. A psychological barrier broken. But with global politics, trade tensions, and domestic reforms swirling, it’s clear—this story is far from over.
