Shares & the stock market

  • 7 April 2021

    Toshiba bid to spark wider M&A speculation as unconditional trading in IPO flop Deliveroo begins, Saga demonstrates its resilience despite pandemic disruption

    “While many of us may still be feeling a bit sluggish after a bank holiday spent consuming mountains of chocolate – there’s no sign of lethargy for the FTSE 100 which built on yesterday’s gains as its post-Easter bounce continued,” says AJ Bell Financial Analyst Danni Hewson.

    “Among the catalysts for this latest leg higher for equities is news of...

    3 min read

  • 6 April 2021

    FTSE plays catch up after US stocks hit yet another record high

    “The FTSE 100 was playing catch up after the Easter break, enjoying strong gains after global stocks rallied hard on Monday, supported by strong US and Chinese economic data,” says AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson.

    “The S&P 500 in the US reached another record level overnight – an occurrence so regular it no longer feels like such a...

    2 min read

  • 1 April 2021

    How online share quotes work

    Learn how we generate quotes for buying and selling shares, why high market volatility can affect the process, and what to do when you can’t get a quote.

    5 min watch

  • 1 April 2021

    Markets pick up ahead of Easter and Next continues to be a retail winner

    “It seems investors are very much of the mind that it is still worth backing companies that will benefit from the reopening of the global economy, despite the negative backdrop of France closing schools in its third lockdown and Brazil still struggling to get Covid under control,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

    “The biggest...

    3 min read

  • 31 March 2021

    Deliveroo’s IPO disappointment earns it the nickname Flopperoo and the FTSE looks set for tepid end to the quarter Deliveroo

    “Deliveroo has gone from hero to zero as the much-hyped stock market debut falls flat on its face. It had better get used to the nickname ‘Flopperoo’,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

    “Initially there was a lot of fanfare about the Amazon-backed company making its shares available to the public, including the ability for...

    3 min read

  • 29 March 2021

    FTSE makes lacklustre start as oil falls and the fallout from hedge fund fire sale continues

    “An easing of restrictions in England failed to act as a catalyst for the FTSE 100 on Monday with the index trading modestly lower,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould,

    “There may be some nervousness in the markets off the back of crisis-hit hedge fund Archegos Capital and its fire sale of Chinese technology and US media stocks after being...

    2 min read

  • 26 March 2021

    Global markets move higher despite fragile backdrop, and Aviva quickly sheds weight

    “A strong end to the week helped to lift investors’ spirits, with the FTSE 100 up 0.8% to 6,731, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.6% and pre-market indicative prices suggesting the core US markets will open 0.4% higher. The key issue is how long markets remain upbeat,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

    “Miners and oil producers drove the...

    3 min read

  • 25 March 2021

    Boohoo pulls its socks up (again) and Cineworld raises more funds after blockbuster losses

    “After another miserable session on Wall Street last night, the FTSE 100 did its best to push ahead with a 0.3% gain to 6,729. Leading the charge were defensive stocks, namely companies that should continue to sell products and services regardless of the state of the economy. Unilever, AstraZeneca and Reckitt Benckiser were among the group of...

    4 min read

  • 24 March 2021

    Lockdown cash could deliver a £24,235 Junior ISA boost

    Taken together, the ISA allowances have never been as generous as they are this year, thanks to the Junior ISA allowance more than doubling to £9,000. This means that in the next month, a family of four could put £116,000 out of the clutches of the taxman, using the allowances for this year and next. Each parent has a £20,000 allowance to use by...

    6 min read
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  • 23 March 2021

    FTSE marks Covid anniversary with slump as travel sector falls for a second day, while Cineworld prepares for reopening

    “The FTSE 100 marked the one-year anniversary of the first Covid lockdown in suitably downbeat fashion,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

    “The ongoing impact of restrictions, particularly on the travel sector, play a part as a ban on going on holiday abroad is extended with new, more severe penalties for flouting the rules.

    “Unsurprisi...

    4 min read

  • 22 March 2021

    Five fund ideas for this year’s ISA allowance

    With just three weeks to go until the 5 April deadline for this year’s ISA subscriptions, we take a look at three funds for different risk appetites, as well as an income and ESG option.

    Cautious

    Personal Assets IT

    The defensive nature of the Personal Assets trust may appeal to those investors who are cautious about the pace of the global recovery...

    4 min read
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  • 22 March 2021

    Travel sector descends on foreign travel warnings and Kingfisher is still riding the DIY boom

    “The travel sector is waking up on Monday to a dose of reality as cold water is poured on the idea of foreign travel for Britons this summer,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

    “Airlines and travel operators had seemingly refused to countenance the cataclysmic idea of another heavily disrupted summer and had been busily advertising to an...

    3 min read

  • 19 March 2021

    Fund added to the AJ Bell Favourite funds list – Schroder Global Equity Income What is the AJ Bell Favourite funds list?

    The AJ Bell Favourite funds list is designed to lighten your research load. There are thousands of funds out there – so we’ve narrowed the field by selecting a high-quality shortlist of funds we believe can deliver their objectives over the long term. To make the list, each fund needs to pass our robust...

    3 min read
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  • 19 March 2021

    UK Government reduces stake in NatWest, and Halfords beefs up motoring service capabilities

    “Tech stocks are back in the doghouse after another leg up in bond yields and increased expectations for higher interest rates, affecting discount rates used for valuations and making tech names on high ratings less appealing,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

    “The Nasdaq took a tumble last night, falling 3% while the S&P 500 fell...

    4 min read

  • 17 March 2021

    Tesla has underperformed Exxon since promotion to the S&P 500

    “It almost three months since Tesla was promoted to the S&P 500 (21 Dec 2020) and just over six since oil major ExxonMobil was demoted from the Dow Jones Industrial Average (31 Aug 2020),” says AJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould.

    Both moves will have delighted those investors who apply strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) screens...

    5 min read

  • 17 March 2021

    SSP taps investors for third time in a year, and Capita announces disposals as turnaround enters its latest phase

    “It was all quiet on the Western and Eastern front with markets across Europe and Asia barely moving on Wednesday,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell. ‘Investors were waiting patiently for the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting, which is expected to see the central bank upgrade its forecasts for the US economy.

    “The Fed seems content...

    4 min read

  • 16 March 2021

    FTSE up after strong US finish and Greggs commits to expansion despite first loss in 36 years

    “A strong finish to trading in the US overnight and robust trading in Asia helped give the FTSE 100 a lift on Tuesday, shaking off any hangover from the day before and framing the day’s narrative around whether the index can regain the 6,800 mantle it briefly attained on Monday,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

    “For once words might...

    3 min read

  • 15 March 2021

    Are Cash ISA savers holding too much cash?

    New consumer research* by Opinium for AJ Bell shows Cash ISA savers are holding high levels of cash, and aren’t switching accounts looking for better rates, partly because they think they’re getting more interest than they probably are.

    We know that since the start of the pandemic, many savers have been all cashed up with nowhere to go. But our...

    8 min read
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  • 15 March 2021

    FTSE 100 up on China data and US stimulus, and Flutter considers US IPO for FanDuel business

    “It is like the markets have remembered to be happy about economic recovery again. For a time the focus was so fixed on accompanying inflation risks, the upside from a rebound in the economy as countries reopen was lost,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

    “Impressive growth figures from China and the passage of Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion...

    3 min read

  • 12 March 2021

    Berkeley disappoints while Burberry beats expectations

    “It’s not quite the end to the week that investors had hoped, with markets across Europe failing to sustain yesterday’s positive momentum,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

    “However, markets are still ahead on the week and the recent sell-off in tech stocks looks like it has stabilised which is important for investor sentiment.

    “T...

    3 min read

  • 11 March 2021

    Why would investors want to own Gilts right now?

    “The yield on the ten-year Gilt yield has come down since the Budget, if only by a few hundredths of a percent, but Chancellor Sunak will be delighted all the same, given his comment that a full percentage point change equates to £25 billion on or off the nation’s interest bill on its debts,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.

    “For all...

    5 min read

  • 11 March 2021

    Morrisons sharpens focus, and Rolls-Royce sticks to cash targets as losses mount

    “The UK may be hit by fierce winds, but global markets have a found a way to ride above the clouds and enjoy a moment of calm in the sun. Markets across Europe and Asia are pressing ahead, following gains on most of the major US indices last night,” comments Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

    “The FTSE 100 nudged up 0.2% to 6,735 with a...

    4 min read