10 December 2019
Ted Baker’s nightmare before Christmas and Ashtead held back by UK woes“There’s plenty for investors to fret about over the next few days and it doesn’t look like they’re feeling too positive about life, with the FTSE 100 starting Tuesday firmly lower.
“The UK general election looms, as does the latest US decision on interest rates and the question of whether the Trump administration will go ahead with tariff hikes...
9 December 2019
Tullow Oil’s shares halve in value and Tesco weighs up potential Asian withdrawal“Equity markets were relatively quiet at the start of the new trading week with the FTSE 100 dipping 0.2% to 7,226 and only marginal gains seen in Japan and India.
“The pound nudged ahead to $1.3162 as the latest polls showed the Conservative Party extending its lead ahead of the General Election later this week.
“The key question for investors is...
6 December 2019
Consumer stocks boost FTSE, Berkeley 'returns to normality' and no shocks for Associated British Foods' Primark chain“Consumer-facing stocks are back in fashion on the FTSE 100 as the trading week draws to a close. JD Sports, Whitbread, Kingfisher, Associated British Foods and Next all featured in the blue chip index’s top 10 risers on Friday.
“Last month’s GfK consumer confidence survey implied that the public was in ‘wait and see mode’ ahead of the general...
5 December 2019
AJ Bell plc - Final results for the year ended 30 September 2019These results are a strong endorsement of the business model and growth strategy that we outlined in the run up to our IPO a year ago. Our focus on the needs of our customers and helping them to invest has enabled us to continue to add new customers to the platform and retain existing ones. This has resulted in assets under administration...
5 December 2019
AJ Bell to donate £10 million to charity via innovative CSR initiativeThe initiative forms part of AJ Bell’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy with the share options being granted in favour of the AJ Bell Trust, a registered charity set up by Andy Bell, chief executive of AJ Bell, predominantly to support disadvantaged young people in the UK. AJ Bell customers and staff will be given the opportunity to...
5 December 2019
Dunelm bounces back and DS Smith’s patchy results“The pound has continued its rally ahead of the general election, now trading at $1.3145 which is a seven month high. Unfortunately the currency’s strength is not giving a lift to the UK domestic-facing FTSE 250 which slips 0.1% to 20,638. The index was being dragged down by various transport, mining and financial stocks.
“Strength in the pound is...
4 December 2019
Endeavour may need to try harder if it is to secure Centamin“ Endeavour Mining’s all-stock bid for Centamin is the third proposed deal in the gold mining industry in the space of a week. Investors may therefore need to ask themselves why gold mining executives seem to think there is value to be had in the gold business, even if equity markets still seem fairly indifferent,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell...
4 December 2019
Asian stocks spooked by potential trade deal delay and M&C Saatchi in a mess“UK stocks have avoided the sharp falls experienced by Asian markets, the latter pulled down by comments from Donald Trump that a trade agreement between the US and China could wait until after the November 2020 presidential election.
“The FTSE 100 slipped 0.2% to 7,145, meaning the market has really gone nowhere since August. Strength among...
3 December 2019
Cineworld at the mercy of film slate and Endeavour goes public in quest to merge with Centamin“UK investors look like they’ve stayed in bed after last night’s widespread market sell-off, triggered by Donald Trump having another rant on Twitter about his dislike of the Fed’s interest rate policy and reintroducing tariffs on steel from Brazil and Argentina.
“The FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower on Tuesday morning with gains in housebuilders and...
2 December 2019
Hopes for a Santa rally and Ted Baker slips up yet again“The FTSE 100 started December on the front foot, raising hopes that there could be a so-called ‘Santa Rally’ in stocks to round off the year.
“The catalyst this morning is a strong set of manufacturing figures from China which beat expectations. The Chinese data is one of a series of global PMI releases due this week which will provide insight...
29 November 2019
Black Friday fears for retail earnings and Ocado strikes major Japanese deal“UK markets took another step back with the FTSE 100 down 0.4% to 7,385 and the FTSE 250 slipped 0.3% to 20,953.
“These movements pale in comparison to Asian shares which slide on weak Japanese manufacturing data and heightened concerns about US/China trade talks.
“Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 2% with the healthcare sector experiencing the...
28 November 2019
How the Conservative manifesto could affect personal financesThe Conservative election manifesto might not be as radical as Labour’s but there are still plenty of proposals that would have an impact on people’s finances and long term savings.
AJ Bell’s analysts consider the key pensions and personal finance pledges put forward by the party.
National Insurance and income tax U-turnNational Insurance rates...
28 November 2019
Green Party manifesto promises radical shake-up for people’s financesThe Green Party has published its election manifesto, including various proposals that would affect savers and retirees.
Based on recent polling, it is possible the next Government will be a coalition comprising a number of the minor parties. The views of these parties are therefore probably more important than ever before.
AJ Bell’s analysts...
28 November 2019
What would the Liberal Democrat manifesto mean for your finances?The Liberal Democrats published their manifesto as the general election battle picked up pace.
While the Conservative and Labour documents will understandably draw the most attention, the minor parties could yet have a crucial say in the future direction of the country.
AJ Bell’s analysts consider the key pensions and personal finance pledges put...
28 November 2019
The potential impact of the Labour manifesto on people's finances and long term savingsLabour has published its election manifesto with plenty of proposals that could have a big impact on people’s finances and long term savings.
AJ Bell’s analysts consider the key pensions and personal finance pledges put forward by the party.
Freeze in state pension age increases beyond 66Make no bones about it – this is a gargantuan promise from...
28 November 2019
Markets retreat on political tensions and Virgin Money shares rally“It’s a very busy day for events influencing the market. The latest Yougov poll suggests the Tories are on course for an election win which has helped to drive sterling higher, up 0.07% against the US dollar to $1.2930. That’s good news for many UK domestic stocks including some of the housebuilders and retailers,” comments Russ Mould, Investment...
27 November 2019
Long-term questions cloud British American Tobacco and On The Beach goes all-in to hoover up Thomas Cook customers“UK, European and Asian stocks have followed the lead from the US last night with small gains across most of the major indices.
“The FTSE 100 jumped 0.3% to 7,425 with notable gains from some of the banks, miners and telecom stocks. Helping to support the index was a small rise in the value of the US dollar against the pound, thereby benefiting...
26 November 2019
FTSE 250 at 15-month high, Compass has European indigestion and De La Rue’s latest warning“The winning trade for UK investors of late has been the FTSE 250 index which nudged up another 0.2% on Tuesday to 20,740, its highest level since August 2018.
“The market seems to be growing more confident that the Conservative Party will win the general election in December, thus bringing some clarity to what might happen with Brexit and –...
21 November 2019
Row over Royal Mail pricing finally laid to rest after latest profit warning“Another profit warning, a well-trailed dividend cut and a share price collapse may finally put to rest the row over whether October 2013’s stock market flotation of Royal Mail undervalued the company’s shares,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“As the share price surged from 330p to reach 600p in early 2014 questions were asked in the...
21 November 2019
Royal Mail blames everyone but itself and Jet-2 owner Dart Group soars“It’s another down day for the markets with the FTSE 100 falling 0.7% to 7,213 as investors grow tired of the lack of progress with US/China trade talks and the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes showed it is in no hurry to make further interest rate cuts in the US,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Royal Mail“ Royal Mail is...
20 November 2019
Fevertree goes flat, and Kingfisher sales slump (again)“Donald Trump seems to have gone back on the offensive overnight – threatening to raise tariffs even higher if a trade deal with China cannot be agreed.
“This spooked investors in Asia and fed through to performance on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 taking a step back in early trading,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Fevertree...19 November 2019
EasyJet looks to go green and AO streamlines its business“The FTSE 100 takes a step forward on Tuesday morning after US indices marked fresh highs on Monday,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The seemingly endless question of US-China trade remains the main influence on markets, with mixed messages coming from Washington and Beijing.
“The Chinese appear to be a bit more pessimistic about a...
18 November 2019
UK shares in demand ahead of general election and Kingspan not insulated from slowdown“With just over three weeks until the general election, many investors are wondering how they should position their portfolios with regards to UK domestic stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“A Conservative majority Government is generally perceived to be positive for UK stocks short-term as investors would have some clarity...
15 November 2019
Investors shrug off BT nationalisation threat and Kier still not out of the danger zone“Investors continue to hang onto every word associated with the US/China trade war. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow reportedly said that current negotiations between the two countries are ‘very constructive’, which was enough to drive stock markets up across the UK, mainland Europe and most of Asia.
“On the FTSE 100, miners Rio Tinto...
14 November 2019
Card Factory needs to breathe some fire into its sales growth and Burberry’s strategic shift is paying off“A small rise in the value of the US dollar against the pound isn’t enough to lift the FTSE 100, which traded 0.2% lower at 7,336. Index weakness can be blamed on falling shares in Royal Dutch Shell, Lloyds and Vodafone.
“Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index had a bad day with a 0.9% decline to 26,323, extending sharp declines seen earlier at the start of...