6 September 2017
Investors do their dough as pizza maker Fulham Shore dishes up a profit warning"A profit warning from restaurant group Fulham Shore has knocked more than a fifth of the AIM-quoted company’s stock market valuation, as the owner of the Franco Manca and Real Greek chains joins Wildwood-owner Tasty, Richoux and Comptoir Libanais by flagging tougher trading conditions," says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Fulham Shore...
6 September 2017
Barratt, Character and easyJet“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory, taking its lead from US and Asian markets, as the North Korean situation continued to evolve, with mixed views on how best to deal with the elevated geopolitical tensions,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The UK’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, was the biggest blue-chip faller...
5 September 2017
Six names in the takeover frame as Schneider and AVEVA try againBids this year for FTSE 100 firms Worldpay, Sky and Unilever, as well as mid-cap names such as Berendsen, Paysafe, Jimmy Choo, Cape, Novae and now a third attempt by France’s Schneider to strike a complex merger deal with AVEVA, all suggest that the pound’s plunge over the past year means UK-quoted companies still look attractive to potential...
5 September 2017
Redrow raises earnings and dividend guidance to ease housing market fears“Analysts and economists continue to fret about Brexit but strong full-year results from builder Redrow make it clear that people still need homes to live in, whatever the political situation,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Monday’s weak construction industry sentiment survey, or purchasing managers index (PMI), had stoked fears...
5 September 2017
Halfords, AVEVA and Redrow“The FTSE100 nudged into positive territory despite the ongoing and escalating tensions between North Korea and the US. Brexit talks are also firmly on today's agenda,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Car accessory and cycling group Halfords is on track to hit its full-year targets after a good performance in the 20 weeks to mid...
4 September 2017
Acacia Mining, Johnson Service Group and Highland Gold Mining“The FTSE 100 opened lower as tensions escalated between North Korea and the US. Asian markets were firmly lower in mid-session trading following the latest comments from the US defence secretary, James Mattis,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Acacia Mining was the FTSE250’s biggest faller in early trading after deciding it would...
1 September 2017
Indivior, Everyman Media and ZPG“The FTSE100 confounded forecasts of a nervy start and opened in positive territory despite an indifferent night for Asian stock markets,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Pharmaceutical group Indivior’s shares plummeted after a US court ruling opened the door to the launch of generic competitors to its key product. Indivior will...
31 August 2017
The Restaurant Group, Ladbrokes Coral and Hays“Blue-chips opened on the front foot with miners Antofagasta, Anglo American, Glencore and Rio Tinto occupying four of the top five slots in early trading. Investors are continuing to assess the impact of UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s trade talks in Japan,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ The Restaurant Group was one of the...
30 August 2017
HSS Hire, Diploma and WH Smith“Blue-chips opened on the front foot and reversed some of yesterday's losses with Prime Minister Theresa May in Japan to discuss future trade arrangements. The appetite for equity trades in London remains subdued, though, due to rising tensions in the Pacific and ongoing Brexit uncertainty,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Troubled...
29 August 2017
IG Design, Image Scan and Hummingbird“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory as the latest round of Brexit negotiations highlighted the widening division between Brussels and London and amid rising geopolitical tensions after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Greetings card and gift packaging group IG Design was an...
25 August 2017
Computacenter, Provident Financial and Air Partner“The FTSE100 opened in positive territory with Provident Financial leading the pack after making some management changes,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Computacenter's shares jumped following a strong first half and the group is on course for a record full-year performance. Revenues rose by 15% £1.7billion and statutory pre-tax...
24 August 2017
Dixons Carphone, Hunting and Hilton Food“Blue-chips nudged higher in early trading with investors keeping their cards close to their chest ahead of second quarter UK gross domestic product figures and the latest Confederation of British Industry’s distributive trades survey this morning,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Dixons Carphone’s shares plummeted after it warned...
23 August 2017
WPP, Laura Ashley and Costain“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory with investors looking to a raft of eurozone manufacturing and services data this morning and similar figures from the US this afternoon along with an update on new home sales,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Advertising giant WPP was the biggest faller in early trading after cutting growth...
22 August 2017
Provident Financial, Persimmon and Antofagasta“The FTSE100 opened on the front foot following positive sessions on Wall Street and Asia with strong results from Persimmon, BHP Billiton and Antofagasta outweighing the plunge in Provident Financial’s shares,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Sub-prime doorstep lender Provident Financial’s shares plummeted after it ditched its...
21 August 2017
Wood Group, Creo Medical and GfinityThe FTSE100 opened the week in negative territory with geopolitical risk weighing on sentiment with traders monitoring North Korea’s reaction to planned military exercises by US and South Korea,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Wood Group’s shares edged up in early trading after it clinched a five-year, multimillion dollar contract...
18 August 2017
Kingspan, TRIG and Forbidden TechnologiesThe FTSE100 was down in early trading following Thursday's terror attack in Barcelona, which led to sharp falls in Wall Street overnight and in Asia this morning,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Insulation specialist Kingspan's shares were up in early trading after a strong first half with acquisitions contributing around half of...
17 August 2017
Kingfisher, Hikma Pharmaceuticals and MarshallsThe FTSE100 opened on the back foot erasing some of yesterday's half-decent gains with traders mulling last night's Fed minutes and the likely knock-on effect for global economies and markets,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Kingfisher was the biggest blue-chip faller in early trading following a drop in second quarter like-for...
16 August 2017
How to spot the next FTSE 100 profits accident – before it happens Unilever’s move to trigger management share awards off underlying earnings, the ongoing debate over the role of auditors in the wake of the accounting scandal at BT’s operations in Italy and shareholder protests over executive pay packets at Smith & Nephew, Burberry and Persimmon all flag the importance of how companies not just make a profit but...
16 August 2017
Seven reasons why weak wage growth leaves consumers facing a pay squeeze“Even though the unemployment rate dropped to a new 42-year low of 4.4% in the three months to June, wage growth in the UK is only inching higher, reaching 2.1% in the three months to May, excluding bonuses," says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“While any increase in pay packets is always welcome, that modest rise is not enough to offset...
16 August 2017
Admiral, Balfour Beatty and Hochschild Mining“The FTSE 100 index opened on the front foot ahead of UK unemployment figures and following uninspiring performances on Wall Street overnight and in Asia this morning,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Insurance group Admiral was the biggest blue-chip faller in early trading after posting a marginal increase in first half profits...
15 August 2017
Mears, H&T Group and Jackpotjoy“Blue-chips edged higher at the start of trading after upbeat trading on markets in the US and Asia as concerns over recent threats of further ballistic missile tests by North Korea appear to be abating. Closer to home, investors will be keeping a close eye on today's inflation data as a key indicator of the state of the UK economy,” says AJ Bell...
14 August 2017
Caledonia Mining, Clarksons and LightwaveRF“The FTSE100 opened on the front foot following a generally positive session on Wall Street on Friday, as investors around the world appeared to be coming to terms with the ongoing tensions between the US and North Korea,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Caledonia Mining has maintained its dividend guidance despite a sharp fall in...
11 August 2017
Highlands Natural Resources, Old Mutual and Afarak“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory, extending the losses registered since North Korea threatened to launch ballistic missiles towards the US territory of Guam. Traders around the globe continue to head for safe havens, with gold showing its strongest performance for over two months,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Highlands...
10 August 2017
Coca-Cola HBC, Cineworld and DFS Furniture“The global sell off in equities continued this morning with the FTSE100 index down by around 0.7% in early trading amid heightened geopolitical tensions with South Korea issuing its own warning to North Korea overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Coca-Cola HBC fizzed to the top of the FTSE100 in early trading following an...
9 August 2017
Hastings, G4S and Legal & GeneralBlue-chips were down in early trading following falls in Asian markets and mixed sentiment on Wall Street with investors continuing to worry about Chinese growth,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Fast-growing general insurer Hastings maintained its momentum in the first half with adjusted operating profits up 22% following a sustained...