Britain's benchmark index touched a record high on Thursday as investors cheered a healthy set of corporate updates, while comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also soothed markets.

The FTSE 100 index of top British firms ended up 0.2% at a fresh closing peak, though off its intraday high. Trading volumes were thin due to a U.S. market holiday. Trump, who has pledged to sign a flurry of executive orders concerning immigration, energy and tariffs on his first day in office, is being sworn in as U.S. president.

Analysis of FTSE 100's 2025 outlook now that it has risen to a new all-time high, examining key drivers including P/E ratios, dividend yields, sterling weakness and technical factors that could push the index to 9,

Britain's benchmark index closed at record peak on Thursday as investors cheered a healthy set of corporate updates, while a surge in precious metal miners also boosted the index. The blue-chip FTSE 100 closed at record-high and smashed through the psychological 8,

The FTSE 100 finished just short of a fresh record high despite rising amid strong sessions from utilities firms. It came as Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out ambitions to kickstart economic growth with planning reform,