19 February 2026
Daily market update: Centrica, Nestle, Rio Tinto, Mondi, DebenhamsInvestors got a nasty shock from Centrica’s results, causing the shares to slump and drag the UK market down in the process.
While Centrica is in the bottom half of the FTSE 100 by weighting, a large downward movement from its shares still had meaningful influence on the UK stock index.
The UK market was also dragged down by the market reaction to...
18 February 2026
When to call it quits on an investmentIf you were invested in an index fund last year, there’s a good chance that your investment made money. In the past year, the MSCI World returned 12.8%, the FTSE returned 25.8% and, despite it’s early wobble, the S&P 500 returned 8.4% (all in pounds sterling and based on data from FE Fundinfo).
But this success might leave some investors with a...
18 February 2026
Daily market update: oil prices, BAE Systems, Glencore, motor financeThe FTSE 100 made new record highs above 10,600 as inflation dropped more sharply than expected to a 10-month low.
This increases the chances of an interest rate cut when the Bank of England meets next month – which is typically good news for stocks and shares in general. It is also a positive for the FTSE 100 given the likely knock-on effect on...
17 February 2026
Daily market update: BHP, Antofagasta, InterContinental Hotels, DebenhamsThe FTSE 100 continues to edge quietly higher and is comfortably outperforming the US stock market so far this year.
The FTSE 100 is up 5.6% versus a 0.1% decline in the S&P 500. The gap is even wider against the tech-heavy Nasdaq index which is down 3% year-to-date.
Driving the UK market higher on Tuesday was a rebound in the plethora of stocks...
17 February 2026
How to invest in the US with less exposure to tech and AIThe recent loss of momentum in the technology and AI space has had a big impact on the US market, where many of the largest tech companies are based. This shift has led to an alternative version of the flagship S&P 500 stock index whose movements are driven equally by each individual company – rather than being determined based on their size –...
16 February 2026
Daily market update: UK takeovers: Beazley and Pinewood TechnologiesA strong showing from financials helped to support the FTSE 100 on a quiet day for corporate news.
NatWest, Barclays and Prudential took the top spots on the FTSE 100 risers’ list. The industrials and real estate sectors were also in demand, while housebuilders were out of fashion amid negative broker comment. Gold was down nearly 1% to trade just...
13 February 2026
Russ Mould: Analysts dig into Antofagasta, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Anglo American numbers ahead of their updatesAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould lists the companies scheduled to report in the week, and takes a closer look at what analysts expect from Antofagasta (ANTO), Glencore (GLEN), Rio Tinto (RIO) & Anglo American (AAL).
13 February 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, CiscoUS stock markets took a sharp move down on 12 February led by continued weakness in technology with the Nasdaq Composite dropping nearly 2% over the week.
Investor confidence has been shaken by the threat of AI to disrupt several sectors including software, legal, insurance and financial services.
The January non-farm payrolls report, delivered a...
13 February 2026
Daily market update: tech gloom weighs on Asia and Europe, NatWest, ITVA gloomy session on Wall Street on Thursday put investors in a grumpy mood at the end of the trading week.
Association with AI has gone from party to peril as investors reappraise what the technology means for companies.
Some are concerned about excessive levels of spending and others fear AI will disrupt multiple industries. It all adds up to a...
12 February 2026
Daily market update: Magnum Ice Cream Company, Unilever, Schroders, RELXThe FTSE 100 eked out a new record intraday high at 10,530 as takeover activity gave a boost to the market.
UK growth figures were as limp as a piece of wilted spinach. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ strategy from day one was to get the public finances in order and then grow the economy, but people are growing tired of waiting for part two to kick into...
12 February 2026
How investing just £25 a month could have netted you £6,300 in 10 yearsWhen people think of investors they may imagine people with private yachts or thousands of pounds in the bank, but investing doesn’t have to mean big sums or expert timing to deliver decent results.
Putting away just £25 a month could grow into a sizeable investment pot over time, and the figures highlight the powerful impact of investing little...
11 February 2026
Daily market update: Barratt Redrow, Heineken, London Stock Exchange GroupThe FTSE 100 ticked higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in bank and resource stocks and chatter that London Stock Exchange Group has been targeted by activist investor Elliott.
A recovery in commodity prices after the recent volatility helped give the miners and energy stocks a lift. Oil was supported by US-Iran nuclear deal uncertainty, while...
10 February 2026
Daily market update: Barclays, Standard Chartered, AstraZeneca, BPThe FTSE 100 slipped on mixed results from some of the big hitters in the index.
Retail sales data from the US for December is likely to be under scrutiny later as the market looks for insights into the health of the US consumer during the festive period.
Wall Street yesterday saw a recovery in the tech sector while the Nikkei continues to bask in...
9 February 2026
Daily market update: Japanese shares, gilts, Ocado, FedEx InPost bidA calm start to the week on financial markets is a major relief given recent tech sector jitters.
All the major European indices moved higher, with the FTSE 100 led by mining stocks.
Ocado nudged higher on reports it will cut up to 1,000 jobs. Investors typically welcome such moves as it removes costs from a business. Ocado has been through a...
7 February 2026
Are the big tech companies running out of legs?Despite another bumper earnings season from the big US technology companies, the share prices of the some of the Magnificent Seven and chip companies have started to lag the broad S&P 500 index.
This suggest investors may be actively moving or ‘rotating’ away from past market leaders into other areas of the market which offer better value with less...
6 February 2026
Russ Mould: Analysts look at forthcoming results of FTSE 100 stalwartsAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould runs through the names of companies scheduled to report updates in the coming week (w/c 9 February), specifically looking at what analysts expect from AstraZeneca, Barclays and British American Tobacco.
6 February 2026
Industries next on the list for disruption by AI and technologyDisruption could turn out to be the buzz word of the year. Anthropic’s new AI tools caused upset to various stocks this week amid fears they could displace many existing services offered by established companies.
Data, advertising and software-related companies were among the names caught up in the market panic. It’s not just about movements this...
6 February 2026
Daily market update: Stellantis, AmazonIt’s been a week from hell for tech stocks as AI spending plans caused upset across global markets and pushed investors to unplug hyperscalers from their portfolios.
Amazon has followed its peers by turning up the dial to max on AI spending, leaving investors with their jaws to the floor. The hyperscalers are so confident that AI will change the...
5 February 2026
The £1 million ISA journey: how to aim for seven figuresBecoming an ISA millionaire needn’t be a fantasy if you are diligent with saving and investing. It can become a reality in just over 21 years for those able to contribute the maximum allowed in an ISA each year and achieve reasonable 7% annual investment returns. Even though you might have to make some sacrifices along the way, the rewards...
5 February 2026
Why the US dollar matters to UK investorsThe value of the US dollar has fallen by around 13% against a basket of major currencies since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 for his second term as US president, plumbing a four-year low.
While very recently the dollar has reversed a small portion of those losses, that longer-term trend has major implications for...
5 February 2026
Why Anthropic’s AI tool is sparking turmoil for data and software firmsWith investors fretting about whether AI-related stocks are in a bubble, the president of investment manager Blackstone, Jon Grey, believes investors should instead be more concerned by disruption risk to big industries.
“What happens when industries change overnight, like what we saw to the Yellow Pages back in the nineties when the Internet came...
5 February 2026
Daily market update: Shell, Vodafone, BT, Compass, AlphabetThe FTSE 100 dipped on decision day for the Bank of England (BoE) as ripples from the Anthropic-driven sell-off continue to be felt.
Markets are currently pricing in a 96% chance of no change to interest rates when the BoE policymakers sit down today, with the next cut not expected until April.
Barring a huge turn up for the books, attention will...
5 February 2026
How to sell shares and what to watch forIf you invest through a platform, the process of selling shares is relatively simple. You can log into your account, see the quoted price, and click through to sell. But, to ensure the transaction is as efficient as possible, and that you’re making a smart choice, here’s what to keep in mind.
Knowing when to sellRealistically, no one knows the...
4 February 2026
Daily market update: Novo Nordisk, Beazley, Watches of Switzerland, GSKThe dust settled on Wednesday after a dramatic session for tech-related stocks amid new AI disruption.
A lot of the focus since the AI theme emerged has been on the winners and while there has been attention on potential losers from the proliferation of artificial intelligence, this part of the story has mainly stayed in the background.
That...
3 February 2026
How to buy shares in SpaceXInvestors are keenly awaiting the potential stock market debut of Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite broadband group SpaceX.
Speculation is only building in intensity after SpaceX agreed a deal to acquire another part of Elon Musk's corporate empire in xAI, which encompasses both the social media platform X and the Grok artificial intelligence...
