24 March 2017
Smiths Group, Digital Barriers and IG Design“The FTSE100 opened in positive territory after a slight fall on Wall Street overnight and a mixed session in Asia. Traders will be looking to a raft of purchasing-managers' index data out in the eurozone mid-morning, followed by PMI and durable goods orders data in the US this afternoon,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Engineering...
23 March 2017
How positive earnings and dividend momentum underpin FTSE 100’s gainsAt the time of writing the FTSE 100 sits just above the 7,300 mark, a fraction below the new record-highs north of 7,400 reached earlier in the month.
One reason for the fresh gains may be positive momentum in corporate earnings and dividend forecasts.
Ultimately it is profits and cash flows that dictate long-term returns from securities, either...
23 March 2017
Lowly valuation and a lofty 8% yield underpin Next amid relief about trading“ Next’s full-year results lived down to the low expectations set by January’s profit warning as (underlying) pre-tax income fell 4% to £790 million and management maintained guidance with a mid-point range of £730 million, a further 8% drop," says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Management cited tough High Street conditions and margin...
23 March 2017
Next, Adnams and Kier“The FTSE100 edged lower in the opening session with the market still subdued after yesterday's Westminster terror attack that left five people dead and 40 injured. Traders will be looking to UK retail sales data out mid-morning, along with several data relating to eurozone consumer confidence throughout the session,” says AJ Bell Investment...
22 March 2017
Kingfisher, Inland Homes and Savills“The FTSE100 was on the back foot in early trading in the wake of sizeable falls on Wall Street and in Asia overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Kingfisher was the biggest blue-chip faller in early trading with political uncertainties outweighing positive full-year results. The group continues to by buoyed by its Screwfix arm...
21 March 2017
Bellway, EnQuest and 888“The FTSE100 edged into positive territory in early trading with investors keeping their powder dry ahead of the UK's consumer-price and producer-price indices, which are due out mid-morning. Attention will also focus on the country's retail-price and house-price indices, along with public-sector net borrowing and CBI industrial order expectations...
20 March 2017
Finsbury Food, Highland Gold and Hansteen“The FTSE100 opened the week in negative territory following recent sideways moves on US and Asia indices, with investors looking ahead to tomorrow’s rich diary of UK inflation data and EU PMI figures for trading spurs,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Finsbury Food’s shares were flat in early trading despite it securing a licence to...
17 March 2017
What to look for as the fund management industry continues to consolidateThe initial flurry of excitement regarding Standard Life’s plan to acquire Aberdeen Asset Management for £3.8 billion in stock is fading, as investors question whether the industrial logic is strong enough to justify the swoop that will create a £660 billion asset manager.
Aberdeen’s shares have slipped to 269p, below the 286.5p offer price...
17 March 2017
Berkeley, Tullow Oil and Amec Foster Wheeler“The FTSE100 edged up in early trading with investors looking to the EU trade balance out mid-morning while this afternoon the focus will be on US data for capacity utilisation, industrial production, inflation expectations and consumer sentiment,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“House-builder Berkeley topped the FTSE250 board in...
16 March 2017
Sainsbury’s, Balfour Beatty and Atlantis Resources“The FTSE100 was buoyant following gains in the US and Asia after the US Federal Reserve increased interest rates. The Bank of England will reveal its rates decision at midday but is anticipated to hold its benchmark interest rate, whereas the Fed's hike last night is predicted to be followed by several more this year and next,” says AJ Bell...
15 March 2017
Hikma, Gem Diamonds and Lloyds“The FTSE100 moved cautiously higher ahead of an expected US Federal Reserve interest-rate rise tonight, with traders also waiting on UK jobs data this morning and a Bank of England quarterly bulletin at noon,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Fast-growing pharmaceutical group Hikma soared to the top of the FTSE100 board following...
14 March 2017
Prudential, SIG and The Gym Group“The UK’s blue chip index clocked a marginal drop in afternoon trading as the future of Scotland and the imminent invoking of Article 50 continue to dominate the headlines,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Global insurer Prudential gained 3.5% as it answered questions about its full year dividend with a 12% hike to 43.5p.The increased...
14 March 2017
French Connection, Ocado and Antofagasta“The FTSE100 edged higher in early trading as the market opened on a cautious note as the proposed departure of UK from the EU was once again to the fore after Parliament approved PM Theresa May's Brexit Bill,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ French Connection’s shares were up in early trading as the fashion chain’s trading...
13 March 2017
Bovis, Amec Foster Wheeler/Wood Group and H&T“Blue-chips opened on the front foot with investors looking to the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday, and the prospect of Brexit being triggered,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Housebuilder Bovis’s shares were up in early trading as it found itself being wooed by two suitors. Bovis has rejected proposals from...
10 March 2017
BT, JD Wetherspoon and esure"The FTSE100 was up in early trading following overnight gains on Wall Street and in Asia, with all eyes on a string of transatlantic economic news and US non-farm payrolls ahead of the Fed's interest-rate call next week. In the UK, industrial, manufacturing production will be watched, along with construction output and the goods trade balance,”...
9 March 2017
Spring budget 2017: a round upGiven that Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond had already declared his intention to move the Budget from Spring to Autumn no-one was expecting him to do too much.
From an investment perspective he lived down to low expectations and there were no changes to pensions tax relief. Investors are likely to be grateful on both counts.
The economic...
9 March 2017
Retailers face up to the twin threats of a weak pound and ‘peak stuff’The first fall in non-food retail sales for six years in the three months to February, according to data from the BRC-KPMG monthly survey (7 March), helps to explain why the UK’s General Retail stocks continue to perform so dismally, even as investors remain generally upbeat on the prospects for future growth and equities in general.
The FTSE All...
9 March 2017
Aviva, Morrisons and Countrywide“The FTSE100 opened in negative territory as investors mulled measures outlined in Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget and looked ahead to the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting at 12.30pm,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Insurance giant Aviva topped the blue-chip board in early trading after operating profits and...
8 March 2017
Legal & General, G4S and Admiral“Blue-chips edged marginally lower in early trading as investors generally kept their powder dry ahead of Chancellor Philip Hammond's Budget,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Legal & General’s shares were up in early trading after it increased its dividend following a strong performance in 2016. Pre-tax profits were up 17% and its...
7 March 2017
Just Eat, Grafton and Intertek“The blue-chip index opened on the front foot following falls on Wall Street and a mixed performance in Asia, with the market continuing to focus on Chancellor Phillip Hammond's Brexit-inspired Budget tomorrow,” says AJ Bell Director Russ Mould.
“ Just Eat’s shares rose in early trading after strong full-year results. The appetite for takeaways...
6 March 2017
Standard Life/Aberdeen, BT and Futura Medical“The FTSE100 opened the week in negative territory following dips in Asia this morning and a fall on Wall Street overnight Friday with investors continuing to expect a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Standard Life topped the blue-chip index and Aberdeen Asset Management was one of the biggest...
3 March 2017
Berendsen, Intercede and WPP“The FTSE100 was down in early trading following falls on Wall Street and in Asia as markets continue mindful about political risk in UK, Europe and the US. Traders will also be assessing a plethora of services purchasing-managers' index data in the UK, Europe and the US,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Industrial laundry group...
2 March 2017
Big house builders need to reassure on growthIn these income-starved times of record-low interest rates and depressed bond yields it is hard to believe that a FTSE 100 stock would barely move when the management team affirms dividend plans that equate to a 7.7% yield for 2017.
But shares in Taylor Wimpey yawned at exactly such an announcement at the end of last month (28 February), mirroring...
2 March 2017
Capita, Travis Perkins and Jimmy Choo“The FTSE100 edged higher in early trading after yesterday’s record close with traders looking to UK construction data out later this morning,” says AJ Bell Director Russ Mould.
“Outsourcing group Capita’s demotion from the blue-chip index has been followed by disappointing full-year results and the impending departure of chief executive Andy...
1 March 2017
ITV, Inchcape and Costain“The FTSE100 was up in early trading as investors mulled US President Donald Trump’s first address to the US Congress and awaited a raft of data on economics front, including the shop-price index and mortgage approvals,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ ITV increased its earnings in the year to the end of December despite a declining...