FTSE 100 Flat in Shortened Trading Day; Index on Track to Gain Over 21% in 2025

The FTSE 100 was unchanged on Wednesday in thin end-of-year trading, with markets operating on a shortened schedule due to New Year’s Eve. 

Several European exchanges were closed, while the CAC 40, one of the few open, slipped 0.5%.

The FTSE 100 index remains on track to finish 2025 more than 21% higher, marking a strong rebound driven by a sustained rally that began in mid-April.

So far on Wednesday, trading is muted, with only modest moves among blue-chip stocks. Vodafone and Imperial Brands both rose 0.6%, while British American Tobacco gained 0.5%. Miners lagged, with Fresnillo down 3%, Endeavour Mining falling 1.6% and Ashtead Group slipping 1.2%.

In corporate updates, Digital 9 Infrastructure announced it has completed the sale of its subsea fibre business, Aqua Comms. The transaction delivered a final net consideration of £34 million, marking further progress in the company’s asset realignment strategy.

Harbour Energy was also in focus after revealing it has been appointed operator of the Zama oil project offshore Mexico. 

The decision was agreed by the project partners Pemex, Grupo Carso and Talos Energy, all of whom will have the option to place key personnel within Harbour’s project team. The arrangement has been approved by Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER).

With trading volumes expected to remain light into the close, the FTSE 100 looks set to cap a robust year despite Wednesday’s lack of momentum.