UK stock market rebounds with record FTSE 100, driven by new listing rules and increased IPOs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says new UK listing rules are reviving the City of London, highlighted by the FTSE 100 reaching a record 10,000 and posting its best annual gain since 2009 with a 21.5% rise. The reforms, introduced by the financial watchdog, cut IPO timelines in half, reduce the need for lengthy prospectuses, and allow listed firms to issue additional shares more easily. The London Stock Exchange launched “access bonds” to make bond investments more affordable for individual investors. These changes followed a late 2025 surge in listings, including Princes Group and Shawbrook Bank, reversing years of declining activity and firm departures to foreign markets. Reeves aims to boost retail investor participation and strengthen the UK’s investment culture.