London stocks hit record as 2026 kicks off with global gainsNEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Stock markets mostly rose on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index reaching 10,000 points for the first time. After indices smashed records in 2025, ending with double-digit annual gains, London continued the trend in early new year deals. It gave up much of its gains but still ended the day up 0.2 percent to set a fresh closing record. Paris and Frankfurt also rose on Friday after Hong Kong led Asian gains, closing up 2.8 percent. Also on Friday on the Hong Kong stock exchange, shares in Chinese chip designer Biren Technology soared as much as 119 percent in the exchange's first listing of the year.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 03, 2026 03:35 UTC