24 December 2025
Five themes for investors to watch in 2026Markets’ core scenario remains one of cooling inflation, steady economic growth and falling interest rates in 2026.
Faith in central banks’ ability, and willingness, to ride to the rescue in the event of any unforeseen events, such as a recession or bout of wider market volatility, remains undimmed.
Some even expect the US Federal Reserve to deploy...
23 December 2025
Russ Mould: Five key market trends to watch for in 2026AJ Bell's Investment Director, Russ Mould, runs us through the five key trends that could influence 2026 and their overall impact on investors.
23 December 2025
Find out what’s expected for US interest rates next yearThe path of US interest rates has big implications for investors across the globe given the implications this has for the world’s largest economy and financial market.
After a quarter percentage point cut was delivered on 10 December, attention turned to what is in store for 2026, a year which will see current Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell...
23 December 2025
Daily market update: GDP and inflation data, Novo Nordisk, Pets at HomeThe FTSE 100 made a steady if unspectacular start on the last full trading day before Christmas.
This followed a decent showing for US and Asian markets overnight even if the record highs for gold and silver hint at some continuing nervousness among investors. Updated estimates of GDP and core PCE inflation data stateside, both delayed by the US...
22 December 2025
Russ Mould: Five themes from markets in 2025AJ Bell's Investment Director, Russ Mould, runs us through the five key themes that emerged from 2025 and their overall impact on investors.
22 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100, gold, GSK, RankThe FTSE 100 started Christmas week on the back foot, with healthcare and utility stocks acting as a drag on the index.
Precious metals miners led the way, as they have for much of 2025, with gold hitting a new all-time high on expectations of further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and robust demand for its safe haven qualities.
An end...
22 December 2025
More than half of AJ Bell customers expected to back British shares in 2026More than half of AJ Bell customers say they are considering investing in UK shares in 2026. These results, based on an online survey of 1,726 customers carried out between 8 and 12 December 2025, demonstrate that investors have a significant natural home bias heading into next year. Global and US shares are also popular alongside bonds, money...
19 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100 ticks higher in early trading, UK government borrowing, NikeThe FTSE 100 ticked higher in early trading after lower-than-expected inflation in the US helped lift shares on Wall Street and across Asia overnight.
The knife-edge nature of yesterday’s rate decision by the Bank of England is keeping UK stocks in check and stalled the FTSE 100’s push towards the 10,000 mark. Investors have responded to the...
19 December 2025
Inflation boost, Micron shines, Nike slumps: US markets this weekA lower-than-expected reading of US inflation helped Wall Street claw back some ground after what has been another difficult week for stocks across the Atlantic.
The latest CPI number showed prices rose 2.7% over the 12 months to November. That pace was down from 3% in September and materially lower than the 3.1% forecast by analysts. In the...
19 December 2025
What the pre-Christmas interest rate cut means for your moneyIn its final decision for 2025 the Bank of England has delivered a pre-Christmas interest rate cut from 4% to 3.75%. The last time rates were below 4% was all the way back in January 2023.
At that time, inflation was in double digits whereas today, despite still being above the Bank’s 2% target, inflation is at 3.2%. This reading, for November 2025...
18 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100 steady ahead of rate decisions, BP, CurrysThe FTSE 100 was steady in early trading as investors await a Bank of England meeting which is seen as being nailed on to deliver a pre-Christmas rate cut.
Continuing strength in the housebuilding sector and some signs of life among retail shares were notable features of early trading. This followed selling in Asian and US markets overnight as...
17 December 2025
Daily market update: housebuilders, oil stocks, Warner Bros, MetaX, BunzlA lower-than-expected reading of inflation has reinforced expectations for a Bank of England rate cut tomorrow and helped the FTSE 100 to post solid gains on Wednesday morning.
The inflation data saw a drop in sterling which helps flatter the dominant overseas earnings in the UK’s flagship index.
Housebuilders posted solid gains on the implied...
16 December 2025
Daily market update: housebuilders, Shell & BP, CentricaHaving moved within sight of the 10,000 mark a little over a month ago, the FTSE 100 lost momentum again today.
There appears to be little sign of a Santa Rally as concerns about tech valuations continue to knock sentiment in US and Asian markets.
The chances of an interest rate cut from the Bank of England this Thursday, already widely priced in...
15 December 2025
Why the experts see a 9% return from US stocks next yearA MarketWatch survey reveals the median 2026 price target for the S&P 500 index from leading Wall Street analysts is 7,500. Based on its current level, this implies a return of around 9% for this key US stock market index next year.
Assuming the consensus is right in 12-months’ time, it would roughly match the long-term average annual return for...
15 December 2025
Daily market update: gold and silver, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, NextDespite a sell-off in Asia, the FTSE 100 got off to a strong start on Monday, supported by higher precious metals prices.
The continuing surge in gold and silver helped lift Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo, and there was broader strength in the mining sector, despite weak Chinese data. The sickly industrial production and retail figures strengthen...
12 December 2025
Russ Mould: Central Bank decisions plus WH Smith & Currys updatesAs the festive season approaches, central banks take centre stage with their final policy decisions of the year. We look at the Bank of England, ECB and Bank of Japan, their interest rate trajectories, and what it means for markets. Plus, key corporate updates from WH Smith and Currys.
12 December 2025
Daily market update: UK GDP, WH Smith, Card Factory, SolGoldThe US tech sell-off was short-lived as Wall Street narrowed losses towards the end of yesterday’s session, helping to lift the broader market mood.
That new-found optimism, or perhaps relief, extended to Europe on Friday with gains seen across all the major equity indices. The FTSE 100 was lifted by a strong showing from the financial sector and...
12 December 2025
Why bonds matter to all investorsWhen people talk about investing, shares usually steal the spotlight. But behind the scenes, there’s a much bigger player quietly shaping everything from mortgage rates to pension deficits to taxes. That’s the bond market. Worth around £150 trillion globally, bonds form the bedrock of the world’s financial system. So what exactly are they, and why...
12 December 2025
Can Indian stocks start firing again after pause for breath?Despite AI fears, geopolitical conflict, and ever-changing tariff policies, markets have (for the most part) ticked along reasonably well this year.
Even after April’s dip, the S&P 500 has recovered, and the FTSE 100 has enjoyed a much more positive year than it has in some time. But one of the world’s top markets over the past decade, India, has...
11 December 2025
Is there a bubble in the gold price? One expert thinks soBubble talk has progressed from AI companies to gold following the sharp rally in the precious metal price this year. The Bank for International Settlements has warned that gold and US stocks are showing signs of being in a bubble, pointing towards hype and exuberance among investors.
Gold has increased by 60% this year to $4,218 per ounce thanks...
11 December 2025
A shocking number of fund managers have failed to outperform the marketIt’s been a dreadful decade for active fund managers. Just 24% of the active funds analysed in AJ Bell’s Manager versus Machine report have beaten a passive alternative in the last 10 years. This is the lowest reading since the report was launched in 2021.
Even if active managers start to turn things around, as they seemed to be in the first half...
11 December 2025
Daily market update: US rate cut, Oracle, DraxAnother day, another rate cut. What’s normally a driver for equity markets has become old news, and investors have shrugged off the Fed’s latest reduction in US borrowing costs as it is becoming harder to guess where rates might go next.
The fanfare around rate cuts was short-lived. European markets were nonplussed at the news, and Wall Street is...
10 December 2025
Daily market update: Anglo American, Berkeley, Everyman Media, FirstGroupMarkets were in a holding pattern ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decision later today.
A quarter point rate cut is widely expected, but more interesting to the market will be commentary on the direction of rates in 2026. There have been conflicting signals from the Fed about monetary policy and markets are keen to see if there is more joined up...
9 December 2025
Daily market update: Nvidia, Google, British American Tobacco, TescoThe UK was an outlier on European markets on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 dipping slightly.
Whereas the rest of the main European equity indices pushed ahead, the FTSE 100 was held back by shares in British American Tobacco going up in smoke, and Tesco falling on disappointing grocery industry data.
NvidiaNvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has...
9 December 2025
Are fund managers’ best ideas different or the same? Here’s how global fund portfolios stack upGlobal equity funds are some of the most popular investment choices among AJ Bell DIY investors. While many people opt for a simple tracker fund designed to mirror the performance of a global index such as the MSCI World, others are drawn to actively managed funds that aim to beat the market.
We thought it would be interesting to dive into the most...
