FTSE 100 gains 6% in 2024 despite ‘lack of enthusiasm’ for UK stock markets

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK’s FTSE 100 has gained nearly 6% over 2024, having reached an all-time high during a year that saw the cost-of-living crisis ease, the Bank of England start cutting interest rates, and a new government take shape. A “lack of enthusiasm” for London’s top stock market index nevertheless meant it lagged behind its US rival for another year, experts said. Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: “The performance since that record high has been symptomatic of the FTSE 100 over the years, a brief pop to new highs and then the rally fizzles out and the index slips back into a range again.” He added that despite the overall gains, the the UK stock market “appears to be suffering from a significant lack of enthusiasm on the part of global investors, especially when you look at its performance relative to its peers”. No-one seems interested in the UK equity market, other than to bash it for failing to attract more new flotations and the defection of some companies to other exchanges AJ Bell A group of analysts for AJ Bell said: “The UK stock market did lag that of the USA and many of its global peers once more in 2024, even as the Bank of England began to cut interest rates, the general election delivered a decisive result which could end the merry-go-round of incumbents in both number 10 and 11 Downing Street, and nearly 50 UK-listed firms acceded to takeover bids from home or abroad.