31 July 2018
BP, Travis Perkins and Centrica“The FTSE 100 traded modestly higher on Tuesday morning despite heavy losses in US technology stocks overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
BP“For a long period in the wake of 2014’s oil price crash the key question was whether or not BP could maintain its generous dividend payments.
“Well the debate has now moved on after the...
30 July 2018
Foxtons and Clipper Logistics“The FTSE 100 begins the week in uncertain form as investors await key decisions on monetary policy in the UK, US and Japan this week,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Foxtons“Today’s numbers from London-focused estate agent Foxtons reflect a continuation of the negative trends the company has been facing of late.
“The lettings...
27 July 2018
FTSE 100 and Rightmove UK stock market: FTSE 100“The UK stock market has effectively gone nowhere in the past two months, much to the frustration of investors who are desperate to find ways to generate returns better than the feeble rates paid on cash deposit accounts,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The FTSE 100 on Friday managed a 0.3% gain to 7,686...
25 July 2018
ITV and Victrex“The mining sector continues to be volatile with metal and coal producers reversing yesterday’s rally to drag down the FTSE 100 on Wednesday. The blue chip index was down 0.3% to 7,687 in early trading with weakness in banking stocks also weighing on the market,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
ITV“ ITV’s new strategy to go beyond...
24 July 2018
Fevertree drinks, Hammerson and Britvic“Miners, transport companies and banks do their best at lifting the FTSE 100 on Tuesday, with the index rising 0.1% to 7,663,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Fevertree drinks“ Fevertree is a true British success story, showing how it is possible to take a seemingly commoditised product, introduce a higher quality version and...
23 July 2018
Ryanair and McColl's Retail‘The UK stock market follows Asia lower on Monday with a 0.7% drop in the FTSE 100 to 7,629 as trade war concerns continue to trouble investors. The blue chip index saw notable weakness in travel stocks, tobacco companies and housebuilders,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Ryanair“Michael O’Leary may have to dust off some of his...
20 July 2018
Retail sector and Sirius Minerals“After a patchy start to the week, the FTSE 100 has subsequently managed to keep its chin up and is on track to end the five-day session approximately 0.5% ahead at 7,700.
“Unilever is the best performing FTSE 100 stock over the past week with a 4.1% gain, closely followed by Ocado which is up 4%. The worst performer is WPP, down 7.4%,” says Russ...
19 July 2018
Babcock, Sports Direct and Moneysupermarket“It’s another static day for the UK markets with the FTSE 100 flat at 7,676. Gains in oil companies, transport firms and tobacco stocks are offset by weakness in miners, industrial companies and tech stocks,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Babcock“ Babcock has been a frustrating business for a number of years. It is highly...
18 July 2018
EasyJet, RPC and Smiths Group“Weak sterling gives a lift to the FTSE 100 on Wednesday, benefiting the large number of companies that generate earnings overseas, such as miners and construction firms. The blue chip index was up 0.5% to 7,667 in early trading,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
EasyJet“ EasyJet’s latest trading update is a perfect reminder of the...
17 July 2018
Subscriber growth slowdown spooks Netflix shareholders but cash flow and valuation are the real issues“Investors in Netflix are suffering a rare reverse today as the shares are tumbling amid disappointment over the company’s subscriber addition number for the second quarter of the year. But nerves over the subs figure relay reflect the company’s lofty valuation and how the company is still a long way from generating the sort of cash flow that would...
17 July 2018
Royal Mail, TalkTalk and Galliford Try“The FTSE 100 continues to hover around the 7,600 mark despite a notable increase in corporate news on Tuesday, something that tends to drive up trading volumes. The blue chip index sees strength in life insurers and housebuilders offset by weakness in tobacco and construction stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Royal Mail...
16 July 2018
Individior, the infrastructure sector and Debenhams“The FTSE 100 holds firm at 7,664 as the new trading week gets underway. A robust performance from utility companies and engineers is offset by weakness in miners and insurers,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Indivior“A large number of companies spend a disproportionate amount of time fighting to protect their intellectual...
13 July 2018
Superyachts, hot weather and high valuations show it’s tough being a retailer (even a really successful one)It’s not as if much further evidence was needed, but today shows just how tough it is to be a retailer in the current environment of low wage growth, high debts and brittle consumer confidence,
DFS has coughed up a profit warning, Dunelm’s trading update lived down to the low expectations set by May’s disappointing update to leave its shares at a...
13 July 2018
Hays and Ashmore“A decent showing from the FTSE 100 on Friday means the index is on track to end the week up 1.1%. While investors will be relieved that it has nudged up in value, it isn’t enough to compensate for the FTSE’s patchy performance this year.
“Anyone putting money in a FTSE 100 tracker at the start of 2018 would have made a mere 0.2% return so far...
12 July 2018
What could trigger a sterling crisis and what could investors expect as a result?Sterling has suffered three crises of confidence since 1945, so a repeat cannot be entirely ruled out owing to the current political upheaval and lack of clarity on Brexit, although previous notable plunges have been the result of economic problems rather than any games of musical chairs at Westminster.
Prime Minister Harold Wilson devalued the...
12 July 2018
SKY and ASOS“Stock markets have switched direction following yesterday’s sea of red. Markets step forward on Thursday including a 0.2% rise in the FTSE 100 to 7,609, helped by a strong showing from tobacco and drug stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
SKY“The stock market continues to believe that the winner of the Sky takeover battle...
11 July 2018
Housebuilders keep subsiding despite strong numbers from Barratt“Shares in house builder Barratt are trading at their lowest level since January 2017 despite a reassuring full-year trading update, which shows further price increases, better-than-expected profit and a higher-than-forecast net cash pile, all of which support the company’s plans to pay meaty dividends to shareholders,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell...
11 July 2018
Sky, Indivior and Barratt Developments“Stock markets around the world are in the red as investors react to the latest trade war development. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index fell 1.2%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 1.8% and in the UK the FTSE 100 traded 1.1% lower on Wednesday. “Plans by the US for an additional $200bn of tariffs on Chinese goods has caused investors to lose their...
10 July 2018
Ocado and TP ICAP“The FTSE 100 has been in a rising trend for most of July and now trades just below 7,700. While still some way off the 7,877 year-to-date high (on a market close basis), the blue chip index is currently displaying its strongest performance since May, helped by the US dollar strengthening against the pound which benefits the large number of FTSE...
9 July 2018
Is artificial intelligence the future?Artificial Intelligence has come a long way since the days when Deep Blue faced Garry Kasparov over a chess board. Matt Brennan, AJ Bell Investments’ Head of Passive Portfolios, explains why it’s now time to consider investing in Artificial Intelligence and the companies that could benefit from the sector’s growth in coming years.
Why Robot?
Aft...
9 July 2018
Mothercare and Stobart“The feel-good factor created by England reaching its first World Cup semi-final in nearly 30 years is reflected in a positive open for UK stocks this morning. Although trade war fears have been dialled back for now, politics is likely to dominate this week amid ongoing ructions over Brexit and Donald Trump’s visit to the UK,” says AJ Bell...
6 July 2018
Why EU regulation move may be more of a worry for Facebook and Google than investors think“Shares in Facebook and Google were up on Thursday, despite comments that the German authorities still believe their activities should be regulated as if they were telecoms services providers, given that they provide messaging and email, but this may be more of a threat than investors think,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“Google is...
6 July 2018
ITV and UK stock market: AIM significantly outperforms FTSE 100“A 0.2% rise in the FTSE 100 on Friday to 7,619 isn’t enough to lift it out of the sticky patch in which it has traded since mid-June. “Utility companies and tobacco stocks are doing their best to lift the blue chip index but there is notable resistance from insurers and banks which weigh on the FTSE and make it harder for the market to break out...
5 July 2018
Three quick ways to measure the second-quarter results season in AmericaAmerica’s headline S&P 500 index is up by just 2% for the year in dollar terms, which seems like a pretty paltry return given how bullish everyone seems to be.
Worries over tariffs, inflation and a steely Federal Reserve, which seems unwilling (quite rightly) to mollycoddle the markets, are all weighing on share prices and once Independence Day is...
5 July 2018
Housebuilders and estate agents, Sophos and Superdry“The FTSE 100 advanced 0.3% to 7,598 in early trading on Thursday, helped by gains in the mining, construction and transport sectors,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Housebuilders and estate agents: Persimmon, Bovis Homes, Purplebricks“Continuing growth for housebuilders Persimmon and Bovis Homes helps reassure a sceptical market...