The FTSE 100 Index jumped by 20% in 2025, reaching its all-time high of £9,945. It has soared by nearly 30% from its lowest level in April, a performance that has mirrored that of other global indices like the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. This article looks at the top stocks that fueled this surge.
Fresnillo, Endeavor Mining, Antofagasta benefited from the commodity boom
Some mining companies were among the best gainers in the FTSE 100 Index this year as commodity prices soared. Fresnillo’s share price jumped by 370% this year, helped by the robust performance of silver and gold prices.
Silver price jumped to a record high of $66, up sharply from the year-to-date low of $28. Gold also soared to a record high of $4,370, up sharply from the year-to-date low of $2,500.
Fresnillo and Endeavor Mining stocks jumped to record highs because they are some of the biggest players in the industry.
Antofagasta stock jumped by 93% this year, helped by the rising copper prices. Copper jumped to a record high of over $10,000, as demand jumped and supply deficit accelerated.
Airtel Africa was the second-best performer in the FTSE 100 Index
Airtel Africa, a company that offers telecom services in the continent, did well this year. It jumped by 178%, becoming the second-best-performing company in the FTSE 100 Index.
The company’s growth accelerated, partly because of currency factors. Revenue in the first half of the year rose by 24.5% in constant currency. Its EBITDA rose by 33.2% to $1.44 billion, while profit-after-tax jumped to $376 million.
The company has also benefited from its Airtel Money product, whose customers jumped to 50 million. Its annual processed funds jumped to $200 billion, a growth that will continue in the future.
Rolls-Royce share price soared as demand jumped
Rolls-Royce stock rose by 95% this year, becoming one of the best performers in the FTSE 100 Index. This rebound happened as demand for its products continued growing across the board.
Its civil aviation business benefited from the rising order book for its wide-body engines. The rising flying hours helped boost the revenues of the long-term services contracts.
The defense segment is benefiting from the buildup of military capability in Europe. Most importantly, the company continued making progress in its small modular reactor (SMR) business, which analysts believe is its hidden gem.
UK banks benefited from high interest rates
Top UK banks like Standard Chartered, Lloyds, Barclays, NatWest, and HSBC were among the top gainers in the FTSE 100 Index. Standard Chartered rose by 78%, while Lloyds and Barclays rose by 75%.
The other top UK banks rose by over 50% during the year as they benefited from the elevated interest rates. Higher rates helped to boost their net interest income, a trend that started in 2022.
There was also a perception that British and other European banks were relatively undervalued compared to their American peers. Now, however, there is a risk on whether the companies will continue rising as the Bank of England slashes rates as UK inflation drops.
Top laggards in the FTSE 100 Index this year
On the other hand, the top laggards in the FTSE 100 Index this year were companies like WPP, Bunzl, Diageo, Mondi, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, and London Stock Exchange. All these stocks dropped by over 20% this year.
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