11 July 2025
Daily market update: UK economy, BP, Warehouse REIT“The UK economy being stuck in the mud and the threat of high tariffs on Canada won’t be a shock to markets, but they are hard to ignore,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“After a strong start to the week, investors ran out of energy on Friday. European indices were in the red and futures prices imply Wall Street will follow the...
10 July 2025
Daily market update: WPP, Vistry, Jupiter, TSMC, Dr Martens“The FTSE 100 has hit a new intraday high of 8,955 as the UK stock market continues to flex its muscles and show strength. Investors lapped up shares in the mining, oil and pharmaceutical sectors, showing a risk-on mood,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“European markets in general continue to shrug off Donald Trump’s daily...
9 July 2025
FTSE 100 dividend growth grinds to a halt, but buyback bonanza continuesWhile dividend growth has slowed in the FTSE 100, the index has far outpaced the US’s S&P 500 in 2025, and the pound continues to outdo the dollar.
The FTSE 100 has provided a 9.6% total return so far this year, compared to just 2.1% from the S&P 500, as the US has started to lag on the global stage.
Whether this trend continues or not remains to...
9 July 2025
Daily market update: WPP, Jet2, drug companies, copper miners, housebuilders“There was a solid showing across European equity markets despite Trump’s tariff onslaught ramping up a gear,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“Copper prices soared on the prospect of 50% tariffs on copper imports into the US. The metal price had already been moving higher as buyers second-guessed tariff threats and stockpiled...
8 July 2025
The link between economic growth and stock market performanceIf a country’s economic growth slows down or speeds up, many assume that its stock market will mirror that performance. There is a close relationship between the two, yet it is not as simple as saying the rate of GDP will be the precise amount you will make from a fund tracking a particular country’s stock market.
Investor expectations drive...
8 July 2025
Daily market update: Rio Tinto, Shein, Samsung, Greencore“The TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade is back on the table as the Trump administration’s latest announcements on tariffs offered some relief to financial markets,” says AJ Bell investment analyst Dan Coatsworth.
“While new levies were announced for 14 trading partners, news of a pause until 1 August to allow for further negotiations was...
7 July 2025
Daily market update: markets volatile as Trump outlines changes to tariff timeline, Tesla shares wobble“Countries and regions are bracing themselves for trade letters from the US as the Trump administration moves to the next phase of its tariff regime,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“Trump might be treating it in the same way as a final notice letter – get your act together and agree to a deal or be put back on the higher...
3 July 2025
Daily market update: Gilt yields pull back as Starmer calms markets, Currys in fine form“After yesterday’s political chaos around the future of Rachel Reeves as chancellor triggered a spike in UK government bond yields, prime minister Keir Starmer has now brought a sense of calm to markets,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“Starmer declaring his support for the chancellor has led to gilt yields pulling back and...
2 July 2025
Daily market update: European shares move higher amid progress with Trump tax-cut bill, Greggs, AstraZeneca“It’s a solid day for European equities as all the major indices moved higher amid progress in the US on policy plans to lower taxes and progress with trade negotiations,” says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
“Commodity producers, financials, utilities and industrials led the way on the UK stock market. The fact both risk-on and...
2 July 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from UNITE, Vistry & PageGroup updatesRuss Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, talks us through what to expect from UNITE, Vistry & PageGroup company updates.
1 July 2025
Daily market update: Japan trade talk, Sainsbury's, SSE, National Grid“Asian markets saw mixed fortunes as investors waited for updates on trade talks and Trump’s tax-reduction bill,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“The Nikkei 225 fared worst as it looked as if relations were strained between the US and Japan, which doesn’t bode well for tariff negotiations.
“Donald Trump took to social media to...
30 June 2025
Daily market update: Canada trade drama, Trump bill, Shein IPO, WH Smith“There is a lot going on to influence markets before the summer lull and investors’ animal spirits continue to fuel the equities space,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“Investors seem confident trade deals will be struck, geopolitical tensions ease, and a major economic slump is avoided. The big unknown is whether investors are...
27 June 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from Sainsbury's, M&S and Currys in the coming weekRuss Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, dives into recent announcements from Sainsbury's, M&S and Currys, and details of what to look out for in upcoming releases.
27 June 2025
Trump ups heat on Powell and Fed, Nvidia hits new record highTo say Donald Trump likes picking fights is an understatement, and with his dust-up with Elon Musk seemingly in the past, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell is Trump’s next target. The US president has been throwing critical bombs at Powell for weeks, demanding immediate rate cuts, while a couple of Powell’s colleagues had also called for lower...
27 June 2025
Daily market update: JD Sports, Nike, US markets“Investors were in a good mood at the end of the trading week with gains seen across European indices and many parts of Asia,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Geopolitical tensions have eased back, for now, and risk appetite has improved.
“Shares in JD Sports burst to life off the back of Nike’s results. The footwear manufacturer...
26 June 2025
Daily market update: BP, Shell, H&M, Moonpig, Associated British Foods“UK takeover action has focused on the mid to lower end of the market so far this year and for a brief moment it looked like we might get the first mega cap action. Alas, Shell has thrown cold water over talk it was preparing a bid for BP, meaning the FTSE 100 hasn’t delivered the surge which many thought might happen this morning,” says Russ Mould...
26 June 2025
BP bid: is takeover talk credible and how might it rank against other FTSE 100 bids?Shell buying BP is second only to a bid for ITV as the perennial takeover talk that won’t go away. The fact rumours keep circulating might suggest there is some truth in the matter, be it Shell or someone else looking to buy the UK oil and gas producer.
This is a difficult one to call. All big companies will look hard at any acquisition...
26 June 2025
Investors continue to shun oil stocks as crude price crumblesFinancial markets can never be always right, but their views must always be respected and right now it looks as if they are spot on when it comes to the risks posed by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices gained little ground when tensions flared between Israel and Iran last week and they shed those gains and more once the ceasefire...
25 June 2025
Daily market update: Babcock, Marks & Spencer, Warehouse REIT, Halfords“Markets were risk-on following the Middle East truce,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Miners, oil producers and airlines were in demand on the UK stock market, helping to drive the FTSE 100 0.3% higher to 8,780. There was a clear rotation as investors moved away from more defensive-style stocks such as utilities, tobacco and...
24 June 2025
Daily market update: oil, Mobico, Saga, Bunzl, Google“Investors are reacting with relief to apparent news of a US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Oil prices slumped on the news as fears the strategically important shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz might be obstructed, affecting global supplies of crude, failed to materialise.
“Tehra...
23 June 2025
What’s shaped markets in the first half of 2025?Tariffs, downgrades to earnings and economic forecasts and geopolitical conflict were the defining factors for markets in the first half of 2025. They’ve caused considerable uncertainty which has affected asset prices, as well as business and consumer confidence.
It’s led to one of the biggest shifts in investor preferences for years, with certain...
23 June 2025
Daily market update: stock market losses contained, Tesla, Assura, Spectris“The markets are not yet reacting with any degree of panic to the US airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities as they await to see how Tehran responds,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The promised two-week hiatus as the US weighed its decision didn’t materialise as the Trump administration acted on Saturday. After briefly spiking above...
20 June 2025
Rising geopolitical tensions leave markets searching for directionUS markets struggled to make progress in a shortened trading week as concerns over the Israel-Iran conflict clouded the outlook.
Energy prices rose, with WTI crude futures pushing though $75 per barrel to a three-month high, while the dollar continued its descent against other major currencies.
The Federal Reserve meeting, normally the highlight of...
20 June 2025
Daily market update: markets recover, Berkeley, retail stocks“Markets recovered some ground as the US appeared to temporarily pull back from the prospect of intervening directly in the Israel-Iran conflict,” says AJ Bell Investment Analyst Dan Coatsworth.
“Trading in Asia was mixed as China kept interest rates unchanged, while the US market was closed yesterday for the Juneteenth federal holiday. Early on...
20 June 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from Currys, Babcock and Telecom PlusAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould highlights the companies scheduled to report in the coming week and specifically discusses what to expect from Currys (CURY), Babcock International (BAB) and Telecom Plus (TEP).
