Global stocks surge on AI optimism to start 2026
World stock markets kicked off 2026 with robust gains on Friday, January 2, as investors embraced renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and technology stocks. This momentum pushed several benchmark indices to historic highs during the year's first trading session.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared 2.8 percent to close at 26,384 points, its strongest opening since 2013. Tech shares drove the rally, with Baidu jumping 7.5 percent after unveiling plans to spin off its AI chip unit, Kunlunxin, for a potential Hong Kong IPO in early 2027. South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.8 percent, fueled by Samsung Electronics shares hitting fresh records following positive customer feedback on its high-bandwidth memory chips from the company's CEO.
U.S. stock futures pointed to a upbeat open after four straight losing days to end 2025. Nasdaq-100 futures rose 1 percent early, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.5 percent. The sentiment stemmed from expectations that AI will boost demand for semiconductors and data center infrastructure.
European markets also hit record levels, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up 0.6 percent at the open. London's FTSE 100 broke through 10,000 points for the first time, touching an intraday high of 10,033.94 after its best annual performance since 2009, with a 21.5 percent rise in 2025. Mining stocks led gains, as Fresnillo rose over 5 percent amid a rebound in precious metal prices.
Precious metals extended their rally, with spot gold advancing 1 percent to $4,351.70 per ounce and silver climbing 2 percent to $72.63 per ounce. These moves built on 2025's stellar gains gold's largest annual increase in 46 years at 63.7 percent, and silver's surge exceeding 140 percent driven by central bank buying, interest rate cuts, and safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions.
The positive start caps a strong 2025 for global equities, where the S&P 500 rose 16.4 percent for its third straight year of double-digit returns, and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 20.4 percent. "The end of 2025 was a bit of a damp squib for world markets, but that doesn't take away from the fact it was a very good year for investors," said Kyle Rodda, senior analyst at Capital.com.
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