The new year has opened on a high note for investors, with the FTSE 100 hitting a record-breaking milestone above 10,000 points on 2 January. The rally marks a confident start to 2026, building on a robust 2025 performance that saw UK stocks deliver standout gains. As global equity leadership diversifies and attention shifts beyond the US, fresh opportunities are emerging closer to home – particularly in the overlooked pockets of the UK market.
Rebecca Maclean, Investment Director, Aberdeen Investments and co-Manager, Dunedin Income Growth investment trust at Aberdeen said;
“2026 starts with a fizz as the FTSE 100 bursts to an all‑time high on 2 January, briefly pushing through the 10,000‑point mark. It follows a strong 2025, when the UK market delivered a 22% gain, led by its largest companies. An impressive return for a region many investors continue to overlook. Notably, last year saw global equity leadership broaden, with almost every major market outpacing the US, as investors diversified their exposure.
Looking ahead, the UK market is expected to deliver solid earnings growth in 2026 and remains one of the cheapest equity markets globally, creating fertile ground for future returns. For those looking beneath the fizz, UK mid‑caps lagged last year’s rally and could present a compelling place for investors to focus next.”
