9 July 2019
Ocado back in investors' good books and Bovis Homes is very upbeat“The FTSE 100 is refusing to budge again as investors sit patiently and wait for a speech from US Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell today and minutes tomorrow from the Fed’s last meeting. Investors want clues on the direction of interest rates as that matters for equities demand,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Consumer goods...
8 July 2019
Imperial Brands changes dividend policy and International Consolidated Airlines fined for data breach“Asian shares were out of favour on Monday with big declines seen across China, Hong Kong, India and Japan. Market chatter suggested that investors were no longer betting on sharp interest rate cuts in the US and so appetite had dampened for equities,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“European markets were less volatile with only...
5 July 2019
A day of bad news: German factory disappointment, SIG joins UK construction woes, and John Menzies hurt by airline and economic troubles“The big news of the day is the sharp decline in German factory orders, down 2.2% in May versus estimates for a 0.2% decline. This will worry the European Central Bank and raise expectations of more monetary stimulus in the near future. “Germany’s main stock market index, the DAX, was flat in early trading on Friday despite the economic setback....
4 July 2019
Why US stocks need to deliver strong Q2 earningsAmerica is celebrating Independence Day just as its Dow Jones Industrials, S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite all reach new all-time highs thanks to hopes for a trade deal with China and lower interest rates from the US Federal Reserve. Improved trade flows, lower interest payments and stimulus to corporate and consumer spending could all help American...
4 July 2019
Associated British Foods toasts US success and Persimmon talks up first-time buyer assistance“After all the excitement of the past week on the market, the FTSE 100 finally took a breather and was unmoved at 7,610 on Thursday,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Many of the biggest fallers on the blue chip index were stocks trading without the rights to their next dividend including International Consolidated Airlines and...
3 July 2019
Sainsbury’s uninspiring update and Purplebricks gives up the American dream“The FTSE 100 traded at its highest level since August 2018 with the market enjoying another strong session thanks to investors bidding up shares in tobacco, utilities and pharma companies. The blue chip index rose 0.6% to 7,600.
“Asian shares didn’t fare as well with most of the main markets flashing red. For example, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index...
2 July 2019
FTSE extends bull-run and Funding Circle disappoints yet again“The FTSE 100 continued yesterday’s bull-run with a further 0.2% gain to 7,515. Stocks have been rising on renewed hopes of a US-China trade deal and headlines like ‘US equities hit a new record high’ have certainly helped to improve investor sentiment,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Tuesday saw insurers in strong demand on the...
1 July 2019
Trade talks need to deliver a firm agreement rather than more tweets to help lift global manufacturingGlobal stock markets are welcoming the encouraging noises over trade, tariffs and relations between America and China after the G20 meeting in Japan and even if it is not entirely clear what tangible progress is being made in those negotiations the latest manufacturing purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) around the world show why investors are so...
1 July 2019
U-turn for Aston Martin shareholder and Future fights back“The fact that China and the US are restarting trade talks gives some reassurance to investors and triggers a small rally in stocks around the world. However, there are plenty of other negative factors to consider which explains why equity markets aren’t experiencing massive surges,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The trade war...
28 June 2019
Merlin set to be gobbled up and Costain issues profit warning“It seems unlikely that we’re going to get much reaction from global stock markets until this weekend’s G20 summit has taken place as investors are looking for updates on trade talks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Instead it is worth taking stock of how markets has performed this year now we’ve reached the halfway point in...
27 June 2019
Kingfisher lines up new boss and Serco returns to growth“This weekend is extremely important for the future direction of global stock markets. The G20 summit will include trade talks between the US and China and investors will be looking for any sign that the two countries can sort out their differences,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Investors in Asia are certainly looking...
26 June 2019
Stagecoach off the rails, and never say never again for Bonmarche“Global markets were fairly static on Wednesday as investors took stock of recent geopolitical and economic events.
“On the FTSE 100, natural resources groups Evraz and Royal Dutch Shell saw small gains. Insurers and banks were also in demand. These gains were offset by weakness in the utilities sector,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ...
25 June 2019
How to play gold if the precious metal’s price really starts to shineThe prospect of looser central bank policy, concerns over global growth and unrest in the Middle East are all giving gold a boost, thanks to its perceived status as a store of value and a haven asset during times of uncertainty. But what is really getting gold-watchers excited is a break-out on the metal’s price chart above the $1,350-to-$1,360 an...
25 June 2019
Carpetright’s recovery still has hurdles to clear, and Gear4Music is out of tune“Geopolitical tensions weighed on the markets on Tuesday after the US imposed new sanctions on Iran. Stocks across the UK, Europe and Asia took a dive, with investors switching their attention once again to gold as a safe-haven asset,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The precious metal traded 1% higher at $1,433 per ounce. Gold...
24 June 2019
Investors marking time until key summit, and Philip Green-backed MySale puts itself up for sale“The FTSE 100 was flat in early trading on Monday with the potential catalysts not scheduled until this coming Friday when the G20 summit is held,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“All the attention will be on Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and whether they can dial down the mood music on trade which of late has...
21 June 2019
FTSE 100 nears 11% gain this year and Trainline chugs on to the UK stock market“The FTSE 100 is on track to end the week around the 7,450 mark, putting it back up at highs previously seen in April and at nearly an 11% gain year-to-date.
“Financial stocks were in vogue with notable gains from Prudential, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland. Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell also gave the blue chip index a lift,” says Russ Mould...
20 June 2019
Dunelm completes hat-trick of good news and investors hang up on Dixons Carphone“Despite a lack of clarity from the US Federal Reserve overnight on potential interest rate cuts the market appeared to be reading between the lines after inflation expectations were downgraded with the FTSE 100 enjoying decent gains to trade 0.3% higher at 7,247.88.
“Today the focus switches to the Bank of England with reports suggesting it might...
19 June 2019
FTSE 100 may need more earnings momentum to make further gains“We are six months into 2019 and the FTSE 100 is up nearly 11%, with the prospect of a dividend yield of some 4.5% on top, returns that pretty much any investor would have taken had you offered them up at the start of the year. The big question now is where do we go from here?” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“A lowly valuation – in...
19 June 2019
Berkeley’s bumper cash returns fail to reassure investors over housing market worries“Worries over the housing market and state of the UK economy more generally appear to be trumping the feel-good factor generated by better-than-expected profits and further share buybacks and dividends from high-end house builder Berkeley, even as its full-year results reaffirm three factors that could form an investment case for the stock,” says...
19 June 2019
Saga’s latest setback and Berkeley spreads its wings“The UK market sat on its hands as investors waited for the latest Fed meeting with bated breath. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.2% to 7,429,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“In stark contrast, Asian shares rallied after US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he’d had a ‘very good’ call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising...
18 June 2019
FTSE treading water ahead of US rate call, and Ashtead is a money-making machine“The FTSE 100 was flat on Tuesday with the US Federal Reserve very much in focus. It feels like the market is setting a lot of store in what emerges from its two-day meeting on interest rates,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“If Fed chief Jerome Powell and his colleagues don’t at least hint at a future rate cut, then a negative...
17 June 2019
Airline sector struck by Lufthansa warning, Kier slims down, and Babcock fights off Serco’s advances“The financial sector came to the FTSE 100’s rescue on Monday as investors bid up shares in banks, insurers and investment platform providers. The blue chip index traded 0.1% higher at 7,353, following a similar trend seen across mainland Europe.
“In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advanced 0.5% after the government suspended a controversial...
13 June 2019
Tesco keeps head above water and Majestic Wine nears major turning point“Global markets struggled to find direction on Thursday with European shares rising and Asian shares falling,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The FTSE 100 advanced 0.2% to 7,385 thanks to strength among miners and construction stocks.
“Blue chip stocks falling as a result of trading without the rights to their latest dividend...
12 June 2019
Halma shows how it is done with fortieth consecutive dividend increase"It might not be a household name although a record of 40 consecutive increases of more than 5% in Halma’s annual dividend suggests that it should be, especially as this track record means the FTSE 100 firm is a good example of how a company that gets the basics right can reward patient investors," says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
"The...
12 June 2019
Pendragon’s car crash update, outsider to lead Reckitt and Boohoo to benefit from summer rain“It was good while it lasted – sadly the global market rally has run out of steam and stocks are flashing red again. US President Donald Trump continues to play hardball with China over trade talks which has dashed investors’ hopes of an amicable resolution,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The FTSE 100 fell 0.4% to 7,371 with...