28 November 2017
Ocado, Cranswick and BCA Marketplace“Blue-chips opened on the front foot despite weakness in overseas markets and ahead of the latest house price data from Nationwide,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Online grocery group Ocado’s shares surged after it agreed to partner with Groupe Casino in France. The transaction is expected to be earnings neutral in 2018 with the...
27 November 2017
Patisserie, Trakm8 and Cerillion“The FTSE100 opened the week in negative territory, taking its cue from markets in Asia while ongoing concerns over UK productivity, economic growth and Brexit continued to weigh on sentiment,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Handmade cake group Patisserie was one of the top risers on AIM after strong full year results. The group...
24 November 2017
James Fisher, IndigoVision and Fuller's“The FTSE100 slipped into negative territory on Black Friday after a positive start for markets in Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Marine services group James Fisher and Sons was the FTSE250’s biggest faller in early trading. The group has maintained its full year outlook and revenues for the first 10 months are 7% up on a...
23 November 2017
Centrica joins the FTSE 100’s “Down More Than 10% In A Day club” – which is rapidly becoming less exclusive“A profit warning amid falling customer numbers and price pressure means that shares in Centrica are showing a double-digit fall in early trade, amid worries over the long-term sustainability of the dividend.
“If the shares stay down at those levels the owner of British Gas will become the ninth current FTSE 100 member firm to have suffered a drop...
23 November 2017
Centrica, Mitchells & Butlers and Majestic Wine“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory weighed down by a cut in UK growth forecasts, volatile oil prices and weaker overnight trading on Wall Street and in Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“British Gas parent Centrica’s shares tumbled as it warned that adjusted earnings per share would be lower than market forecasts. The...
22 November 2017
Market movers post Budget – stocks, bonds & currencies Stocks“When Mr Hammond stood up the FTSE 100 was trading at 7,448. An hour later, when he had finished, it was almost exactly unchanged,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The only real movers look to have been the housebuilders – Barratt, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Berkeley sank to the bottom of the FTSE 100, with drops of between 1...
22 November 2017
Hammond’s hamstrung budget“The lack of any blockbuster Budget announcements for UK savers shows that Chancellor Hammond is hamstrung by a crippling combination of worsening growth forecasts, a weak Government and stalling Brexit negotiations," says Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell.
“There is a nod to younger voters with a new railcard to help 26 to 30 year olds with the...
22 November 2017
SSP provides investors with the full picnic“Better-than-expected full-year profits, a 50% increase in its dividend to 8.1p and a £100 million special dividend (worth around another 21p per share) mean that Upper Crust-owner SSP is providing investors with a feast of good news today and the shares are up strongly to a new all-time high as a result,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ...
22 November 2017
How to assess whether infrastructure funds can be a useful portfolio assetThe concrete word “infrastructure” is regularly bandied about in conversations that cover the more nebulous term “productivity,” as economists and analysts alike try to fathom why certain economies and workforces seem to be more efficient than others.
But building new facilities or upgrading old ones can be expensive and time-consuming, so from...
22 November 2017
Thomas Cook, Countryside and Finsbury Food“Blue-chips opened higher ahead of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget as the global rally continues,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Thomas Cook’s shares tumbled despite an increase in first half revenues and profits following an increased demand for holidays. Cut-throat competition, especially for Spanish holidays, has depressed...
21 November 2017
easyJet, HomeServe and Kingfisher“Blue-chips edged lower despite an upbeat start on markets in Asia this morning, as traders maintained a cautious approach ahead of this week's Budget announcement,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Low-cost airline easyJet topped the FTSE100 board in early trading despite a 17.3% fall in headline pre-tax profits. easyJet delivered a...
20 November 2017
Diploma, William Hill and Bonmarche“The FTSE 100 opened on the back foot as a combination of mixed signals from overseas markets, political issues along with Brexit concerns hampered any major directional change,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Specialised technical products and services group Diploma was one of the biggest FTSE250 risers following strong full year...
17 November 2017
Carillion, Kier and Record“The FTSE100 surrendered yesterday's gains as Brexit negotiations and next week's Budget continued to weigh on sentiment,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Beleaguered contractor Carillion’s shares plummeted after another profit warning and it said it needed to defer the testing of its financial covenants or be in breach of them at the...
16 November 2017
How to ensure rotation can keep portfolios fertile rather than fallowHe may have been in charge of foreign policy under George I, but eighteenth-century politician Charles Townshend is best known as ‘Turnip’ Townshend for his work in the field of agriculture. He introduced the four-crop field rotation system, as wheat, barley, clover and turnips were grown annually in order in enclosure. The system helped keep the...
16 November 2017
British Land, Dart and Royal Mail“The FTSE100 edged higher in early trading following a positive showing from equity markets in Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Property developer British Land was an early blue-chip riser following a strong first half performance. The group’s strategic focus on creating outstanding environments is driving demand for space in...
15 November 2017
TalkTalk, Crest Nicholson and Card Factory“The FTSE100 opened lower as ongoing political issues and Brexit concerns continued to weigh on sentiment in London, while commodities prices were weaker overnight as were markets in the US and Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ TalkTalk shares tumbled after it posted a first half loss. TalkTalk continues to see strong demand...
14 November 2017
Will interest rates rise faster than we think?The weak pound and price of oil could force Mark Carney’s hand
“Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and his colleagues on the Monetary Policy Committee will not welcome this week’s latest bout of weakness in sterling or renewed strength in the oil price, as both are complicating factors when it comes to inflation, which at 3% is still running...
14 November 2017
Vodafone, Bovis and FirstGroup“The FTSE100 confounded forecasts and opened in positive territory ahead of key inflation data and despite ongoing Brexit concerns, following the performances on markets in the US and Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Vodafone led the blue-chip board in early trading after it upgraded its earnings guidance following a strong...
13 November 2017
Fishing Republic, Taylor Wimpey and Ladbrokes Coral“Blue-chips made a positive start to the week despite ongoing political issues in the UK and mixed trading on markets in Asia this morning,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Fishing Republic’s shares plummeted after it warned it faced a full-year loss. The group has seen a dramatic change in its fortunes in the past few months as...
10 November 2017
Galliford Try, Vedanta and Gulfsands Petroleum“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory following falls in US markets overnight as concerns over the level of global economic growth and ongoing political issues closer to home continued to weigh on sentiment,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Construction and housebuilding group Galliford Try was one of the biggest FTSE250 risers...
9 November 2017
Why investors need to keep an eye on this most taxing of issuesThe kerfuffle caused by the Paradise Papers is unlikely to die down for some time as it shines a light on corporate behaviour that is not entirely flattering.
This column will not go into the ins and outs of the individual cases mentioned for fear of both entering a legal minefield and becoming embroiled in a debate which can be as much about...
9 November 2017
Sainsbury’s, Lookers and AstraZeneca“The FTSE100 edged down in early trading as Brexit talks between the UK and the European Union resume. Wall Street was held back by concerns President Trump's tax reforms could be delayed,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s was one of the biggest blue-chip fallers in early trading after wage inflation hit...
8 November 2017
Five things that M&S needs to do better (even if Steve Rowe is starting to get it right)“Stock markets can be terribly impatient things and the indifferent response given to Marks & Spencer’s interim results is a good example of this. The shares are down even though there are signs of improving momentum in the Clothing & Home operation and the plans outlined by Steve Rowe as part of the ‘next phase’ of his turnaround plan make sense –...
8 November 2017
Marks & Spencer, JD Wetherspoon and esure“Blue-chips opened in negative territory after US and Asian markets offered limited positive support overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Marks & Spencer’s shares slipped back in early trading after a 5.3% fall in pre-tax profits. M&S is making progress on its turnaround plan with encouraging results from its clothing & home...
7 November 2017
Imperial Brands, Associated British Foods and DCC“Blue-chips opened on the front foot following advances in the US and Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Tobacco giant Imperial Brands topped the FTSE100 board after strong full-year results. The group has made gains in most of its priority markets and is stepping up its drive into next generation products, with new e-vapour...