Shares & the stock market

21 September 2026

Big-name fund managers Terry Smith, Nick Train and Bill Ackman have experienced a significant period of underperformance over the past five years, with their respective flagship funds trailing global equity indices.

All three managers have built their reputations investing in quality businesses which they believe possess durable competitive...

21 September 2026

Markets started Monday on the front foot as oil prices retreated and talks on trade and AI between the US and China made apparent progress.

Asian shares chalked up gains and these were replicated in Europe, which repaired some of the damage from Friday’s sell-off.

Comments from Donald Trump signalling he would ‘probably’ be open to meeting his...

21 September 2026

Everything else being equal, steadier earnings growth compounds more reliably than the same average growth rate achieved with high year-on-year variance.

For example, earnings growth at critical life-saving technology specialist Halma has averaged around 12% over the last decade, which is close to its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% a...

21 September 2026

It’s not easy to right a ship, especially when it’s more of a tanker than a sailboat. But some of the most well-known consumer names are being forced to give it a go with big changes in a bid to meet customer demands.

The group of companies highlighted here, including Primark, Nike, and Diageo, are household names. But they can feel of a slightly...

18 September 2026

The sheer number of people facing Alzheimer’s and dementia means there’s every chance that you’ll come into contact with it during your life – either as a sufferer, a carer, or a family member of someone with it. It can be incredibly distressing for everyone involved, but it can also have profound financial implications.

In the early stages, even...

18 September 2026

US stock markets were modestly lower this week, showing resilience against a raft of headwinds including higher oil prices, rising bond yields and AI safety concerns which, initially sent semiconductor chip stocks lower.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point as expected and signalled more hikes were likely.

A...

18 September 2026

News around AI this week has been enough to power some nightmares with a suspicious resemblance to Blade Runner.

Former Anthropic employees are warning that Large Language Models (LLMs) could lead to human extinction within a decade, and the companies themselves are asking for, and laying out, legislation. Of course, there’s a lot of opinions that...

18 September 2026

Revived hopes for a resolution to the crisis in the Middle East have helped sustain a recovery in global equities but European stocks took a pause for breath on Friday.

The FTSE 100 wasn’t helped by its heavy weighting in energy as BP and Shell reacted to further falls in the oil price. Brent crude declined for a third consecutive session, even if...

17 September 2026

After the Federal Reserve took centre stage last night it’s the turn of the Bank of England today as investors await the latest decision on UK interest rates.

The measured market reaction to the Fed’s decision to hike rates for the first time since 2023 reflects how widely expected the move was and a degree of comfort among investors with the idea...

16 September 2026

European and Asian stock markets enjoyed a solid bounce on Wednesday as investor sentiment picked up amid a pullback in the oil price.

Brent crude fell 1% to $107.70 per barrel, providing some much-needed relief to the market following an intense period that fired up inflation worries. The dip in the commodity price might not be enough to steer the...

15 September 2026

Rising bond yields have caught the attention of AJ Bell DIY investors in the past month, who have increased their holdings in bond products both in terms of net buys and net flows in comparison to the past year.

The buying flurry comes on the back of government bonds making their way into the headlines both in the US and the UK. Last week, 10-year...

15 September 2026

The fact Brent crude oil held firm below $110 a barrel should be a positive for investors as it means the pressure is not getting worse for businesses and consumers.

However, the fact oil remains at an elevated level and we’re only hours away from a major interest rate decision is enough to keep financial markets on alert.

European equities were in...

14 September 2026

Oil and AI fears are causing a double headache for investors, with bond yields rising again and a loss of momentum on equity markets.

Brent crude rose 2.9% to $107.62 per barrel amid ongoing fighting in the Middle East, with new strikes on ships and oil infrastructure. It adds to existing inflation fears which were stoked last week by the latest US...

12 September 2026

Higher bond yields have investors wondering what companies will be prepared for a bit of extra strain on the balance sheet, and which ones could buckle under pressure. Based on AJ Bell analysis, some of the UK’s best-known names could face trouble.

When interest rates and bond yields were low, investors weren’t overly concerned with how much debt...

11 September 2026

US stock markets sold off sharply this week after oil prices broke through $100 per barrel on renewed hostilities in the Middle East, and bond yields continued to rise on concerns of sticky inflation, with 10-year yields just shy of 5%.

August producer price inflation rose to a hotter than expected 5.4% year-on-year, although core PPI, excluding...

11 September 2026

Brent crude oil prices have moved back through the $100 a barrel mark, suggesting that central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer or consider further rate rises if inflationary pressures intensify. This has major implications for personal finances, corporate profits and financial markets.

Oil price trends have played a key role in...

11 September 2026

The stakes have been ratcheted up ahead of US inflation data later after a renewed surge in oil prices and government bond yields.

Signs that crude prices and bond yields have at least stabilised for the time being allowed for a calmer start to proceedings on Friday after the fear factor ramped up on Thursday. The FTSE 100 was just about in...

10 September 2026

The FTSE 100 managed to nudge higher on Thursday despite oil prices holding above $100 per barrel.

Asian shares saw heavy selling with the region particularly exposed to disrupted energy supplies from the Middle East.

Comments from Donald Trump suggest the chances of any diplomatic progress before the midterm elections in the US are looking slim...

9 September 2026

Brent crude pushing above $100 a barrel has had a psychological effect on the market, pushing a hypothetical inflation worry gauge to ‘serious’ status and dragging down financial assets.

The oil price has now jumped by 28% since early August. This type of ascent could leave businesses and consumers feeling sick at the thought of sharp cost...

9 September 2026

The 250th running of the St Leger is due to take place at its traditional home of Town Moor, Doncaster on Saturday and the stable of trainer Aidan O’Brien has a stranglehold on the big race, as the masterful Irishman trains two of the top three in the betting.

Stock market investors will be keeping an eye on the final ‘classic’ horse race of the...

9 September 2026

The Bank of England and US Federal Reserve are primed to make their latest decisions on interest rates, with expectations for a short-term move higher building.

If the outlook for central banks’ rate policies was a game of football, commentators would describe 2026 as a game of two halves.

At the beginning of the year, the narrative was a broad...

8 September 2026

Oil prices continued a slow creep towards the $100 per barrel mark on Tuesday.

Brent crude is at a six-week high, with apparent moves toward a deal between Iran and Oman to manage the flow of some shipping through the Strait of Hormuz merely underlining Tehran’s control of the waterway.

For now, government bond yields remained steady and that...

7 September 2026

Following mixed fortunes across the main Asian equity markets, UK stocks made a lacklustre start to the trading week.

Many of the headlines from the dominant AI theme remain positive, and that supported gains for South Korean stocks, but investors are having to contend with the potential for an interest rate hike at the US Federal Reserve’s meeting...

5 September 2026

US stock markets eked out small gains, aided by a mid-week reversal in bond yields, triggered by a speech from Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller who said he could support keeping interest rates on hold at the September meeting.

This follows a hawkish speech from Fed chair Kevin Walsh’s at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on 28 August...

4 September 2026

Constantly changing interest rate expectations have kept investors on their toes this week.

Having spent several days in the worry zone amid fears of growing inflationary pressures, markets have ended the week on a calmer note.

Wall Street pushed forward on Thursday after Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller hinted at a potential pause on...