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.

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,

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.

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,