5 August 2016
US jobs figures please but they are still unlikely to sway the Fed“America added 255,000 non-farm jobs in July and although this handsomely beat the consensus expectation of 180,000 the US Federal Reserve still has a dilemma on its hands when it meets to discuss interest rates on 20-21 September,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“It has now had two positive jobs numbers in a row, although the May...
5 August 2016
Royal Bank of Scotland, Bellway and esure“Blue-chips confounded forecasts and opened strongly following calm turns on Wall Street and in Asia overnight as investors responded to the Bank of England’s interest rate cut and other stimulus measures.,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The pain continues for taxpayer controlled Royal Bank of Scotland with first half losses rising...
4 August 2016
Ladbrokes, Aviva and AA“Equities were muted in early trading after positive sessions on Wall Street and in Asia, with the market looking to the Bank of England's midday interest rate call when a cut is widely expected,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Investors were keen to take a punt on bookmaker Ladbrokes in early trading following better-than-expected...
3 August 2016
HSBC, Next and Moneysupermarket.com“The FTSE100 slipped into negative territory in early trading following a softer Wall Street and a fall in crude prices due to concerns over a global glut,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
HSBC was an early riser as investors overlooked the sharp fall in the bank’s first half profits and were wooed by a $2.5bn share buyback programme...
2 August 2016
Direct Line, Greggs and AG Barr"Blue-chips continued yesterday’s downward trajectory in early trading, following on from mixed sessions overnight on Wall Street and in Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Insurance group Direct Line’s first half operating profits were hit by lower investment gains and the new Flood Re levy. The results, though, are set against a...
1 August 2016
Burberry, Intertek and Real Good Food“Equities were up in early deals following a broadly positive session in Asia overnight, and Friday’s mixed turn by Wall Street. The market is already looking ahead to the Bank of England's interest-rate decision on Thursday when a 25 basis point cut is expected,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Iconic fashion group Burberry was up in...
29 July 2016
Barclays, International Consolidated Airlines and Foxtons“The FTSE 100 falls 19 points to 6,702 in early trading as it is dragged down by oil and gas, mining and utility stocks,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Barclays’ international exposure and diverse business model will shelter it from any Brexit fall-out; at least that is what’s implied by the bank in its half year results. In stark...
28 July 2016
Lloyds Banking, Sky and Royal Dutch Shell“The FTSE 100 falls 0.3% to 6,728 as poor results from Royal Dutch Shell and worries about Lloyds Banking pull down the market,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Lloyds Banking fell by 4% in early trading after it warned of a ‘deceleration of growth’ and said it couldn’t give clear guidance on future earnings expectations. The market...
27 July 2016
Flybe, Dignity and Metro Bank“Better than expected second quarter GDP figures put investors in a good mood, sending the FTSE up 45 points to 6,769,” says AJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould.
“A dark cloud hangs over airline stocks with Flybe the latest to cause panic among investors. The regional carrier says consumer uncertainty and the economic impact from Brexit, as...
27 July 2016
Rightmove, ITV, On The Beach“The FTSE 100 is only five points away from hitting a 12-month high as investors flock to stocks with international earnings,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
In a market where everyone is panicking about real estate funds and house prices, property website Rightmove remains a source of tranquillity. The continuation of strong monthly...
26 July 2016
Is now the time to invest in commercial property?Property investment trusts currently offer annual dividend yields of 5% and discounts to net asset value of 9% on average (see Table 1 below). Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director, looks at whether now could be the time for long-term investors to consider investing in commercial property:
“The recent suspensions of a number of the most popular...
26 July 2016
BP, Fevertree Drinks, BT“The FTSE 100 nudged ahead 12 points to 6.722 in early trading despite the pound falling to $1.30 and Asian markets heading south,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
The oil price rally may have run out of steam but BP is trying its hardest to stay on track. Underlying profit before interest and tax of $1.3 billion was below forecasts...
25 July 2016
How elections and interest rates could influence the US marketsIt took the best part of 14 months but America’s S&P 500 benchmark equity index finally set a new all-time high this month while US government bonds, or Treasuries, also continue to perform strongly.
That both asset classes are doing so well at the same time may not sit easily with all investors, especially those who are used to seeing them do well...
22 July 2016
LSL Property, Acacia Mining, Home Retail Group"After a slow start the FTSE was shaken from its slumber by worse than expected UK PMI numbers which imply the country could be heading for recession. In volatile trading the index was in positive territory on expectations for financial stimulus," says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
" LSL Property Services, which runs the second largest...
22 July 2016
Vodafone, CRH, Inland Homes"The FTSE 100 drifted lower at the market open, taking its cue from weakness in the US and Asia overnight and with few macro drivers to provide direction heading into the weekend,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
"Mobile telecoms giant Vodafone beat expectations with a 2.2% increase in first quarter organic service revenue against...
21 July 2016
Easyjet, William Hill, Hochschild Mining“The FTSE 100 slipped into negative territory at the market open ahead of the European Central Bank’s first meeting since the UK’s vote to leave the EU,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ EasyJet could be in store for a difficult fourth quarter after reporting a 7.7% decline in revenue per seat for the previous three months. Increased...
20 July 2016
Inflation inches higher but is still well below the Bank of England’s target“An acceleration in UK inflation to 0.5% year-on-year in June from 0.3% in May gives some potential hint of what the pound’s plunge against the dollar, euro and yen could mean going forward", says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“The 0.5% increase in the consumer price index (CPI) exceeded the consensus forecast of 0.4% and took inflation...
20 July 2016
BHP Billiton, Wizz Air and Restore“The FTSE 100 holds steady on a quiet day for large cap corporate news following mute trading on Asian and US markets. This might be the calm before the storm as reporting season gets in full swing next week with a multitude of FTSE 350 companies releasing numbers,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
There is a good chance the earnings...
15 July 2016
How to check the foundations of commercial property fundsIn the past fortnight or so, a number of open-ended commercial property funds available on the AJ Bell Youinvest platform have suspended trading, instituted fair pricing, or significantly varied the terms of trading, to the understandable consternation of investors.
This is in response to widespread redemptions, as some investors have attempted to...
14 July 2016
Interest rates, bikes and fashion“The FTSE 100 was caught on the hop after the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee unexpectedly voted by 8-1 against any change in interest rates from their historic low of 0.5% or its £375 billion Quantitative Easing programme,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould. “The market quickly sold off, erasing a 1% gain in the FTSE 100 in a...
13 July 2016
JD Wetherspoon, Barratt and Burberry“The FTSE 100 opened in negative territory as cautious investors await tomorrow's Bank of England interest rate decision. Attention is also focused on another busy day in Westminster with new Prime Minister Theresa May set to announce key cabinet appointments, including those who will be responsible for handling the UK's departure from the European...
12 July 2016
ASOS, Galliford Try and Shire“Blue-chips confounded forecasts and opened in positive territory following Wall St overnight and Asia this morning, as traders cautiously welcomed the appointment of Theresa May as incoming UK prime minister on Wednesday to succeed David Cameron,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Online fashion group ASOS saw no sign of falling...
11 July 2016
SThree, Ortac and Landore“The FTSE 100 hit an 11-month high and the FTSE 250 continued to rally post-Brexit as speculation the Bank of England would stimulate the economy through looser monetary policies boosted investor confidence,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Specialist staffing group SThree had a mixed first half. Continental Europe remained the group’s...
11 July 2016
Frenkel Topping, group CPL Resources and McBride“The FTSE 100 opened on the front foot after upbeat US jobs data sparked Asian markets into action although any major northbound charge was constrained by struggling oil prices,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ Frenkel Topping was an early faller after half-year revenues were flat and pre-tax profits fell. The group, which...
8 July 2016
Kibo Mining, 1pm and Ilika“The blue-chip index moved into positive territory with housebuilders Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developments and Persimmon all to the fore and on better-than-expected US new job figures,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Tanzania-focussed Kibo Mining’s shares were up after it revealed results of the mining definitive feasibility study for...