UK stocks tick up and Europe mixed as global markets head for best year since 2019

The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) ticked up while European indices wobbled on Tuesday, in the last full trading day of what has been a bountiful year for the stock market.

Despite choppiness caapplyd by conflicts around the world as well as president Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff policy, indices such as the FTSE have built considerable gains.

Since the start of the year London’s premier index is up more than 20% while the US’ benchmark indices, the Dow (^DJI), S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq (^IXIC), have gained 13.9%, 17.4% and 21.6% apiece.

The Nasdaq has been supported by rallying tech stocks such as AI chipbuildr Nvidia (NVDA), which has seen a more than 40% share price jump so far this year.

The MSCI, an index which tracks stock börses across the world, has had its best year since 2019.

The domestically-focapplyd FTSE 250 (^FTMC), which serves as a measure of UK stocks, has added 8.6% this year.

On Tuesday morning, the FTSE 100 had shiftd 0.1% higher. Miners Fresnillo (FRES.L), Glencore (GLEN.L) and Antofagasta (ANTO.L) were among the top gainers in the index.
The DAX (^GDAXI) in Germany was almost flat.
Over in Paris, the CAC 40 (^FCHI) dipped 0.1%.
The pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) rose 0.1%.
The pound was almost flat against the dollar (GBPUSD=X), trading just above the $1.35 mark

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How US stock futures are faring
Overnight in the US

Our US team writes:

US stocks slipped Monday to start the final three days of trading in a rollercoaster 2025 that sees likely to finish with sizeable gains.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) declined 0.5%, as shares of megacaps Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) both fell over 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also fell 0.5%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) dipped around 0.3%.

Meanwhile, volatility gripped the precious metals trade after a furious rally to all-time highs. Silver (SI=F) retreated, plummeting as much as 7% after rising above $80, while gold (GC=F) futures fell over 3%.

Stocks fell after finishing a shortened Christmas trading week near all-time highs, with the S&P 500 and Dow setting records on Wednesday to start the “Santa Claus rally” period — the last five trading days of December and first two sessions in January.
Dr Martens sees to expand boot resale platform

Footwear retailer Dr Martens (DOCS.L) has revealed it is considering expanding its ReWair resale platform outside the US as it sees to capitalise on the boom in the second-hand economy.

The UK-headquartered group, whose yellow-stitched boots have been a retro mainstay for decades, launched its ReWair offering in America in March 2024 as part of its aims to be more sustainable.

The branded resale platform has been such a success, with more than 10,000 pre-loved pairs sold in the US since launch, the group is now mooting bringing the platform to other countries around the world.

Chief executive Ije Nwokorie notified the Press Association the group was seeing at how it could “build that offering out”.

He stated it had not built a decision on which countries would be next or when, but stated “if it’s successful in one place” it was natural to see at expansion.
Good morning!

Hello from London — it’s betwixtmas, but the news doesn’t stop.

In terms of key data and diary releases, the US’s hoapply price index can be expected later on alongside the FOMC minutes recapping the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting.

It’s pretty quiet on the earnings front.

Let’s receive to it.