FTSE 100 continues longest winning streak in eight years – should you invest in UK equities?

The UK’s main stock market index closed slightly higher today, continuing its winning streak. What has been driving the FTSE 100's performance?

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(Image credit: Oscar Wong via Getty Images)

The FTSE 100 closed 0.37% higher today, positing positive gains for the 13th consecutive trading session. It is the index's best run since early 2017.

Despite being hit by tariff-related disruption earlier this month, the blue-chip index has had a decent year so far, significantly outperforming its US counterpart. As of market close on 30 April, the FTSE 100 was up 3.9% year-to-date. The S&P 500 is currently down around 6% over the same period.

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The latest gains mean the FTSE has now recovered most of the losses suffered after 2 April, when Trump’s tariffs prompted a global market crash.

Although total dividend payments were 4.6% lower in the first quarter of 2025 than the same period a year ago, UK companies still returned £14 billion to investors in total. The UK market as a whole is expected to yield 3.7% over the next 12 months, according to stock transfer company Computershare.

UK equities: large-caps versus small and mid-caps

Although the FTSE 100 is the UK’s main market index, it is actually more internationally-exposed than other indices like the FTSE 250. This is because most of the companies held in the index operate globally, meaning their revenues come from all around the world.

If the US and UK agree a trade deal – and it is still a big ‘if’ – small and mid-cap companies could potentially see a bigger boost than their large-cap counterparts, as they are more exposed to the domestic economy.

In a report published this week, Stifel research analysts Iain Scouller and William Crighton, said a trade deal would likely result in “the removal of most, if not all, of the current 10% reciprocal tariffs”.

They believe UK exporters could see a boost in their revenues as a result, particularly compared with exporters in other countries facing higher tariffs.

“Whilst large FTSE 100 companies tend to have sprawling businesses with lots of moving parts and many factors influencing their share prices, we think many UK mid and small caps have more focused businesses, and those with significant exports to the USA stand to benefit from the clarity provided by a trade deal,” they added.

UK small and mid-caps have underperformed the large-cap market in recent years, and could be more impacted by domestic headwinds like the recent increase to employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Investors looking to hedge their bets with exposure across a range of market caps could consider a FTSE 350 tracker fund, which will have exposure to the large-cap FTSE 100 index and the mid-cap FTSE 250.

Those who want to throw some small caps into the mix as well could consider a FTSE All-Share tracker, which is an aggregation of the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and FTSE Small Cap indices. This represents 98-99% of UK market cap.

Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.


Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.


Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.


Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.