23 June 2026
Daily market update: Royal Mail, Bunzl, Telecom Plus, Heineken, Gear4MusicThe FTSE 100 was lower on Tuesday after yesterday’s tech sell-off in the US.
The selling in SpaceX, as its trajectory starts to reverse following a blockbuster market debut, has had a knock-on effect on some of the UK vehicles with stakes in the business. The mining sector in London was also lower amid concern about the global economy.
The market...
23 June 2026
Starmer gone: five things for investors to watch in the coming monthsDon’t be fooled into a false sense of security from the muted bond market reaction to Keir Starmer’s resignation. There is still a risk that bond markets find something to worry about as we transition to a new prime minister.
It could just be a momentary stillness before things escalate. Here are five key areas to watch.
1. Leadership battle?Uncer...
22 June 2026
How the UK’s stock and bond markets react to mid-term prime ministersKeir Starmer's resignation as leader of the Labour Party and UK prime minister is the latest in a series of events which could see the country welcome its eighth unelected, mid-term prime minister since the launch of the FTSE All-Share in 1962.
After winning the Makerfield by-election Andy Burnham is currently the frontrunner to take on the Number...
22 June 2026
Daily market update: Keir Starmer, Babcock, Ocado, EasyJetTalks to end the war between the US and Iran are underway. Markets could see heightened volatility during the process as this won’t be a simple handshake to get it done.
To compound this situation, investors are on the edge of their seats regarding a seismic change in UK politics. Gilt yields moved up slightly on news Keir Starmer will step down as...
21 June 2026
How to use price to sales to find cheap UK companiesIf you’re trying to separate undervalued from overvalued companies, comparing market value (the company’s worth) to revenue (the amount of money a business earns before deducting expenses) can be a useful starting point. It is referred to as the price to sales or PS ratio for short.
The PS ratio is straightforward to calculate; for example...
19 June 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 steady, SpaceX, EntainThe FTSE 100 was steady on Friday after gains on Wall Street yesterday, as investors largely shrugged off the latest political news in the UK.
Oil prices ticked higher and Asian stocks dipped as negotiations between Washington and Tehran were apparently put on hold while Israel continued to pursue strikes against Lebanon. These developments are a...
19 June 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: memory chip stocks surgeIn a week dominated by two major events – the first Federal Reserve meeting under chair Kevin Warsh and the US-Iran peace deal – US markets made positive progress.
It wasn’t without its ups and downs though, largely thanks to the Fed – of which more later.
Memory chip stocks, which had seen their surge interrupted of late, were significantly higher...
18 June 2026
Daily market update: Tesco, FirstGroup, Drax, WhitbreadPolitics and economics are front and centre for markets in the UK and beyond.
The US and Iran have signed an initial deal to end the war, causing oil prices to fall further. Oil has now fallen by 30% in just over four weeks, wiping out much of the increases seen since the start of the war in late February.
Brent crude now trades at $77.79 per...
18 June 2026
Is this IPO worth your money? Here's how to find outIPO investing can be tempting but how do you know if a new stock is worth your money?
This video breaks down a practical IPO investing checklist to help you assess opportunities more carefully.
With IPO activity picking up again in the US and potentially the UK, investors may start to see more companies coming to market. But not all IPOs are...
17 June 2026
US-Iran peace deal: which sectors have recovered and which are stuck in a rut?A US-Iran peace agreement and prospects for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz saw Brent Crude oil prices fall to around $80 per barrel on 16 June, well below the near $120 peak and back within 10% of pre-war levels.
The agreement has implications for central bank interest rate policy due to the inflationary impact of higher energy prices putting...
17 June 2026
Daily market update: oil price falls, BMW, PZ Cussons, AO WorldThe surprise UK inflation reading was positive news for interest rate-sensitive stocks including banks and housebuilders.
Inflation holding steady was the last thing anyone expected in the face of higher oil prices caused by the Iran war. Central banks typically raise interest rates to fight inflation, and the latest reading suggests the Bank of...
16 June 2026
How AJ Bell DIY investors grabbed their slice of SpaceXSpaceX made its public market debut last week and AJ Bell DIY customers took up the opportunity with more vigor than any other IPO in the past.
The public relished the opportunity to buy into SpaceX’s stock market offer, judging by demand on AJ Bell’s DIY platform.
We saw more than five times the number of applications to buy shares than any IPO...
16 June 2026
Daily market update: Thames Water, IWG, DebenhamsThe FTSE 100 held firm as investors absorbed the latest news from the Middle East.
Brent crude oil prices were steady at $82 per barrel, with a full retreat closer to pre-war levels unlikely to come until a concrete deal is in place and there is clear evidence shipping is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The reaction in government bond yields...
16 June 2026
Bill Ackman: The IPOs that could make or break marketsAJ Bell's Head of Markets, Dan Coatsworth, speaks to Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square, about the big forces shaping global markets right now. Ackman explains why IPOs from SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI could be critical for market momentum – and whether they'll fuel further gains or risk investor fatigue.
He also discusses whether Alphabet's huge...
15 June 2026
Daily market update: Markets jump and oil falls on Iran peace deal, BootsMarkets have finally got the news they’ve longed for since the beginning of March as the end of the Iran war is more clearly in sight.
The framework deal is a major step forward to ending the conflict, although it is still not officially signed and remains light on detail. Markets seem cautiously optimistic there won’t be any setbacks to getting...
12 June 2026
SpaceX IPO: Space stocks and funds soar in popularityInvestors keen to join the race to space didn't sit on their hands waiting for the SpaceX IPO, which happened on 12 June. They had already strapped in for the journey by snapping up other space stocks and funds in recent months.
Space-related investments feature heavily in the most popular purchases on the AJ Bell DIY investor platform over the...
12 June 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: OpenAI readies its blockbuster IPOThe S&P 500 was on track to log its first weekly pullback since March driven by a sharp sell-off in technology stocks, until President Trump cancelled strikes against Iran and signalled a deal could be announced soon.
This prompted a sharp turnaround for the major indices on 11 June with the S&P 500 gaining 1.7%, the Nasdaq Composite up 2.5% and...
11 June 2026
Daily market update: Frasers, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Oracle and HalmaDespite continuing uncertainty about the fate of any peace deal in the Middle East, the FTSE 100 forged ahead on Thursday.
As has often been the case during the Iran conflict, the UK’s flagship index has found support from its collection of energy companies and more traditionally defensive names. Miners and other China-linked stocks were lifted by...
10 June 2026
FTSE 100 Changes: Is Computacenter an AI Signal?FTSE 100 changes are back in focus — but does Computacenter joining the index signal a stronger UK technology sector, or a warning from market history?
In this video, Russ Mould explores the latest FTSE 100 reshuffle, including why Computacenter, Aberdeen, and Investec are being promoted, while companies such as Rightmove, Berkeley, and Mondi move...
10 June 2026
Are there any bargains lurking in the UK’s most unloved stocks?With market attention on AI and the next frontier in space, investors with a more contrarian mindset will be searching unloved parts of the UK stock market for underappreciated gems.
With this mindset, we’ve identified companies that fit the bill using a simple strategy. But before looking at the stocks, it’s essential for investors to understand...
10 June 2026
Daily market update: Markets steady after wobble, WH Smith, Thames WaterYesterday’s selloff on Wall Street didn’t turn out to be too disastrous, with the Nasdaq clawing back much of its losses by the end of the session. That has helped to avoid contagion on the markets, albeit investors are slightly nervous about the heightened volatility this week.
There are many reasons why markets are wobbly. The prospect of...
9 June 2026
Daily market update: FTSE left behind, OpenAI, GSK, LBGThe wind keeps changing direction on the Iran war, meaning investor sentiment is running hot and cold depending on the rhetoric.
The Brent crude oil price has become a proxy for whether markets think the Middle East conflict will soon be resolved or not, and today’s 1% drop to $93.32 per barrel would suggest renewed optimism.
Markets have bounced...
9 June 2026
Can the gold price break out of its funk?Since minting a fresh all-time high in early January 2026 of $5,340 per troy ounce the gold price has fallen 18.5%. In doing so it is toying with bear market territory, generally defined as a 20% drop from the most recent peak.
Despite the war in the Middle East, an event which might normally be expected to see gold’s safe haven credentials in...
8 June 2026
Daily market update: Tate & Lyle, Audioboom, DebenhamsHopes have been dashed for the two key things investors desperately wanted – an end to the Iran war and interest rates not to go up.
Investors have been on the edge of their seat waiting for a breakthrough in Middle East negotiations. Renewed fighting between Iran and Israel has thrown cold water on the prospect of a resolution any time soon...
5 June 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: Alphabet's record $85 billion raiseUS markets were mixed in the first week of June with the technology-led Nasdaq Composite index taking a breather after a strong run and the benchmark S&P 500 flat.
A poor reception for chip maker Broadcom's latest earnings led to selling across the AI space.
Data from the Supply of Institute Management showed both the manufacturing and services...
