Why is the FTSE 100 closing in on a record high and will it continue to outperform this year?
The FTSE 100 has started the year on the front foot and investors are watching closely to see if it can hit a new record high. The UK’s blue-chip index led the way among main global stock markets last year, keeping its head above water and delivering a respectable total return including dividends of 4.7 per cent. After a strong finish to 2022 and good start to 2023, it is now up 14 per cent on its October lows at 7,860, within a whisker of its all-time closing high at 7,877. So why has the FTSE 100 been performing so well and can it continue its run throughout this year? On this episode of the Investing Show, Simon Lambert and Richard Hunter take a look back at the scorecard for the Footsie and other major markets last year and look forward to what may happen this year.