Britain's benchmark share index closed at a record high on Friday and logged its best month in more than two years, while investors prepared for the Bank of England's rate decision next week. The blue-chip FTSE 100 hit an all-time high of 8,

Tech stock sell off over AI investment fears and the expectation of cheaper borrowing through more interest rate cuts are boosting the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100.

The FTSE 100 index of top British firms ended up 0.2% at a fresh closing peak, though off its intraday high. Trading volumes were thin due to a U.S. market holiday. Trump, who has pledged to sign a flurry of executive orders concerning immigration, energy and tariffs on his first day in office, is being sworn in as U.S. president.

Britain's benchmark index touched a record high on Thursday as investors cheered a healthy set of corporate updates, while comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also soothed markets. The blue-chip FTSE 100 touched a record-high and is set to log its fourth straight session of gains.