London's blue-chip FTSE 100 index hit the symbolic 10,000 points mark for the first time on Friday, reflecting a wider surge in global equities and providing a strong start to 2026 for a stock market that had lagged behind peers for years. The benchmark crossed the milestone early on the first trading day of 2026. It gained nearly 22% in 2025, its best year since 2009, outperforming Europe's broad STOXX 600 index and the S&P 500. Learn More

Benchmark Japanese government bonds (JGBs) fell on Tuesday in the final trading day of a year that has seen the sharpest jump in yields in three decades on concerns about the nation's finances. The 10-year JGB yield rose 2 basis points (bp) to 2.075%, not far from the 2.1% level on December 22 that was the highest since February 1999. The yield, which moves inversely to bond prices, has surged nearly one full percentage point in 2025, the most since 1994. Learn More

Tesla ceded its crown as the world's top electric vehicle maker to China's BYD, after annual sales fell for a second year, hit by rising competition, the expiry of U.S. tax credits and brand backlash. With global EV sales rising 28% last year, BYD outsold Tesla for the first time on an annual basis, helped by rapid growth in Europe, where the Chinese automaker has been widening its lead over the U.S. rival. Learn More