European equities opened 2026 with further gains as the region’s main index hit a record and the London FTSE 100 topped the 10,000-point mark. Markets pushed higher on Jan. 2, 2026, extending a start-of-year rally.

The move leaves European benchmarks poised for a third consecutive weekly gain, with investor interest particularly concentrated in defense manufacturers’ stocks.

Traders noted broad-based demand across the session as markets digested the holiday-thinned start to the year; no specific company announcements were cited in the report. #FTSE100 #EuropeanStocks #DefenseStocks #FiatNews