1 July 2016
BHP Billiton, RSA Insurance and Gama Aviation“The FTSE 100 continued to display post-Brexit momentum with investors maintaining the trend of buying defensive stocks while also being encouraged by the prospect of fresh stimulus from the Bank of England after Governor Mark Carney signalled that some monetary policy easing would be required,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ BHP...
1 July 2016
EnQuest, ECO Animal Health and Concurrent Technologies“The FTSE 100 opened in positive territory, as widely predicted, following Bank of England governor Mark Carney’s strong hint of a potential cut to already low interest rates after the 'Leave' referendum result. Asian and US markets also pushed higher overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“ EnQuest made early gains after it...
1 July 2016
Brexit one week onWhat a shock last Friday was. I woke up and the world looked very different.
A fitful night’s sleep had enabled me to keep abreast of how the result was heading and I had already planned a series of early morning calls with my team. “The market is shut for business, the maximum market size in Unilever is £100,..” was the first bit of news. “The PM...
30 June 2016
Costain, Wood Group and by Legal & General“The FTSE 100 was lower in early trading with London's main market seemingly running out of steam following the rally seen over the past couple of days when Brexit concerns were temporarily put to one side,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Engineering solutions provider Costain was an early riser with investors noting the group’s...
29 June 2016
The four key portfolio issues to address as the UK prepares to “Leave”The British electorate has spoken and the UK has decided to “Leave” the European Union. The Prime Minister is going, the Leader of the Opposition is under the cosh from his own party and the fate of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is uncertain. Meanwhile, there is no clarity on when (or even whether) the UK will invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of...
29 June 2016
Nostra Terra, Stagecoach and GoldStone Resources“Equities continued to make positive gains as risk sentiment improved after the UK's decision to leave the EU with house-builders, which suffered some of the sharpest falls on the Brexit vote, prominent blue-chip risers,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Nostra Terra’s shares soared after the group accepted $2.1m for its 20% stake in...
29 June 2016
Dixons Carphone, Brammer and Circle“Blue-chips opened in plus territory adding to yesterday's solid gains as traders followed the positive progress made in the US and Asia overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Dixons Carphone is bullish its about prospects following the Brexit vote while underlining the importance of the UK continuing to have access to the...
28 June 2016
Legal & General, AstraZeneca and Premier Veterinary Group“Equities and sterling recovered some lost ground after the falls sustained following the Brexit vote and despite the UK losing its 'AAA' credit rating,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Legal & General was one of the strongest blue-chip performers following a resilient trading update. L&G reduced its exposure to riskier classes before...
28 June 2016
Ocado, Carpetright and fastjet“The FTSE 100 opened on the front foot and crossed back over the psychologically important 6000 barrier ahead of today's meeting of EU leaders to discuss the Brexit referendum and despite the UK losing its 'AAA' credit rating after the vote,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Online supermarket Ocado continues to prosper with the group...
27 June 2016
Hays, FairFX and Anglo Asian“The fall in blue-chip stocks was less pronounced at lunchtime than many had expected in the wake of the Brexit vote although the more UK-focused FTSE 250 suffered a bigger drop. Sterling fell further despite Chancellor George Osborne’s U-turn on his pre-referendum warning over the need for an emergency Budge on a Leave victory,” says AJ Bell...
27 June 2016
easyJet, Foxtons and Porvair“The FTSE 100 started the week in reverse gear as the market continued to react to the EU referendum result and with sterling under pressure against the euro and US dollar, Chancellor George Osborne aimed to settle some nerves by ruling out an immediate emergency Budget. Meanwhile, the political fall-out continues with Labour also facing the...
24 June 2016
Key stock and sector trends to watch as Britain votes to “Leave”The British electorate has spoken and the UK has decided to “Leave” the European Union. Whether this leads to Prime Minister David Cameron immediately invoking Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which is the formal mechanism for any nation wishing to withdraw, is still unclear – not least as the PM has made it clear he is to step down in the...
24 June 2016
Brexit - initial stock market winners and losersThe FTSE 100 was down 6.7% and the FTSE 250 falls 10.3% in the first half hour of trading. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, comments:
“Some bargain hunters are pouncing on the weakness with a few blue chip stocks recovering some lost ground since the market open, albeit only minor compared to the overall decline.
Only 10 stocks in the...
23 June 2016
How NIRP is driving investors to take the corporate shillingOne of the biggest conundrums facing investors today comes in the form of the Government bond market. In theory a source of steady coupons in return for taking limited risk, this arena is now home to negative yields – which guarantee the holder a loss over the lifetime of the bond if it is held from issue to redemption. And yet the world has never...
23 June 2016
Tesco, DS Smith and James Latham“The FTSE 100 opened in positive territory as voting in the EU referendum got under way. Wall Street closed lower overnight and crude oil prices were hovering around the $50 a barrel mark,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Investors were impressed by Tesco’s first quarter figures which showed that the supermarket giant has increased its...
22 June 2016
Mirada, Elementis and Range Resources“Investors were cautiously optimistic Remain would carry the day in the EU referendum with the FTSE 100 in positive territory although opinion polls continued to suggest the outcome was too close to call,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Software solutions provider Mirada’s shares soared following the full commercial roll-out of its...
22 June 2016
Debenhams, Hornby and Safestore“The FTSE 100 opened on the front foot on the last day of trading before the EU referendum. Opinion polls show the Remain and Leave camps neck-and-neck with both sides making a last ditch attempt to woo voters,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The dip in Debenhams’ third quarter like-for-like sales has underlined the ongoing malaise...
21 June 2016
Chemring, Nostra Terra Oil & Gas and Senior“Renewed swings in EU referendum opinion polls and a warning from economist Nouriel Roubini that a Brexit could cause 'significant damage to the UK economy' ensured there was no repeat of yesterday's rally. The FTSE 100 was stable and the pound strengthened, but commodity prices dipped as uncertainty continued to challenge the stock market ahead of...
21 June 2016
Whitbread, Photo-Me and BHP Billiton“The FTSE 100 surrendered some of yesterday's heady gains as caution returned with only two days to go before the EU referendum. Wall Street and Asian markets were moderately higher and crude oil was hovering around the $50 a barrel mark,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Costa Coffee continues to provide the main stimulus behind...
20 June 2016
Circassia, Kenmare and GameAccount Network“Equities and the pound rallied as markets grew more confident that the UK would vote to stay in the EU. Banking stocks dominated the top risers in the FTSE 100 with Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Barclays climbing between 5% and 7%,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Circassia Pharmaceuticals’ shares plunged after a study showed...
20 June 2016
Majestic Wines, JKX Oil & Gas and Greatland Gold“The FTSE 100 made a strong start to the week following positive sessions in Asia and despite US markets ending lower on Friday. The Brexit debate continues to dominate, with polls split between the 'Leave' and 'Remain' camps ahead of Thursday's referendum,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Majestic Wines was the toast of the AIM board...
17 June 2016
How to invest ethicallyIn the end, most investors put capital at risk because they want a return that satisfies their personal needs and requirements. Some may do so because they want to make a difference and do good. Many more will be keen that their investments do no harm thus avoid making a difference in a negative way.
This raises three key questions:
How can...
17 June 2016
Scancell, CDialogues and Kodal Minerals“The blue-chip index bounced back and broke through the 6000 points barrier following a suspension in EU referendum campaigning and led by a strong rebound in banking shares,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.“Drug developer Scancell’s shares slumped after it suspended dosing patients in a trial of its skin cancer drug SCIB1. Scancell’s...
17 June 2016
JD Sports, Record and HSBC“The FTSE 100 made strong gains in early trading as both sides in the EU referendum suspended campaigning after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered. Bargain hunters came out in their droves following a particularly bad spell for blue-chips. Asian markets rallied but remained significantly lower on the week, while Wall Street ended an up-and-down session...
16 June 2016
Safestore, Faroe Petroleum and Chariot Oil & Gas“Equities were in negative territory with banking stocks sustaining some of the biggest falls even before the Bank of England described the outcome of the EU referendum as the largest immediate risk facing UK financial markets as it maintained interest rates at 0.5%,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Investors overlooked the fall in...