27 May 2025
Daily market update: UK stocks rebound after US U-turn on EU tariffs and Tesla faces BYD threat“The latest U-turn on tariffs from the Trump administration gave European markets a boost yesterday and have helped UK stocks return from the Bank Holiday with pep in their step,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“The market is beginning to come to the view that the US trade policy’s bark is worse than its bite as an initial threat of...
23 May 2025
Markets get ready for NVIDIA’s first-quarter resultsGlobal stock markets have rallied hard and one major source of support has been the so-called Magnificent Seven of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla and NVIDIA, whose collective stock market capitalisation of $16.6 trillion is 10% below the peak reached on Christmas Eve last year and more than a quarter above the low reached on 8...
23 May 2025
Bond yields move higher as stocks retreatStocks started on the back foot this week after credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded US government debt amid worries over persistent budget deficits and rising debt levels.
Stocks came under further pressure on Wednesday (21 May) following weak investor demand in a 20-year bond auction which saw yields settling at 5.04% compared with 4.83% in...
23 May 2025
Daily market update: European shares move higher and Games Workshop slips on licencing forward guidance“It was a solid end to the trading week for European equities, helped by Germany’s economy growing faster than previously thought and strong investor interest in pharma and energy stocks,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“The Dax has been a bright spot in global markets this year as investors lock on to a region where the...
22 May 2025
Russ Mould : A look at the Magnificent Seven as markets rallyAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould runs us through market updates in the coming week with a particular focus on NVIDIA.
22 May 2025
Daily market update: Rio Tinto, BT, EasyJet, Johnson Matthey, QinetiQ“Market weakness across Asia and Europe only looks like a minor pullback rather than anything to worry about,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell. “Futures prices imply a better day ahead for Wall Street and that could help to lift market spirits.
“The FTSE 100 was dragged down by energy stocks and a negative reaction to BT’s results...
21 May 2025
Why is my investment trust asking me for a continuation vote?If you are a shareholder in an investment trust, you may receive communications asking you to participate in a continuation vote.
A continuation vote for an investment trust is simply a vote to ask if the trust should keep going as an investment vehicle, or if it should be shut down. When an investment trust is wound up, the assets are liquidated...
21 May 2025
Marks & Spencer outlines £300 million hit to profit and reveals plan to bring forward infrastructure upgradeThe £300 million expected impact of Marks & Spencer’s cyber-attack on profits shows the severity of the situation. It suggests hackers have caused considerable damage to the company from a financial and reputational perspective.
Marks & Spencer has lost a significant number of sales after temporarily halting online orders. Disruption to supplies...
21 May 2025
Daily market update: utilities, JD Sports, Shoe Zone, Currys“Utilities did their best to prop up the UK stock market and they were helped by defence contractors once again being in vogue,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Updates from Severn Trent and SSE were well received by the market. The utilities sector has found itself the centre of attention in recent months as investors look to...
20 May 2025
Daily market update: Diploma, Cranswick, Greggs, CATL, Vodafone“European markets took their cue from a recovery in US stocks overnight as market concerns eased and US government bond yields pulled back a touch,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The downgrade to the US credit rating from agency Moody’s and fears about the impact on an already-large deficit of a package of tax cuts making its way...
19 May 2025
Daily market update: Diageo, Nvidia, Ryanair, Assura“While largely a symbolic move, the US credit downgrade from Moody’s, as well as the progress of a bill in Washington promising major tax cuts, cast a pall over the markets at the start of the week,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Having been floored by the announcement of Liberation Day tariffs last month, stocks got back on their...
16 May 2025
Surprise 90-day trade truce sparks tech rallyA surprise 90-day trade war truce between the US and China and walkdown on tariffs (12 May) put a rocket under stocks this week, sending the benchmark S&P 500 index up 4.5%.
Technology stocks led the gains with the Nasdaq Composite index gaining more than 6% on the week despite bonds selling off with the 10-year treasury yield briefly climbing...
16 May 2025
Russ Mould: look out for results from BT and Vodafone next weekRuss Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director, runs through the key figures to keep an eye on when BT and Vodafone publish full-year results next week.
16 May 2025
Daily market update: Future, Richemont, Workspace, Character“The FTSE 100 continued its ascent as investors loaded up on pharma and energy stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“ AstraZeneca, Shell and GSK were the biggest contributors to the FTSE 100 in terms of index points, suggesting that investors were fishing for opportunities among areas that have recently been weak.
“Pharma...
15 May 2025
Only six North American funds have made investors money this yearJust six funds focusing on North America have made money in sterling terms for UK retail investors this year.
Including the open-ended fund universe and investment trusts, this means just 6% of funds investing in the sector have been able to see any gains amid the tariff turmoil. So how have the lucky few been able to succeed?
Well, one of them...
15 May 2025
Daily market update: Bakkavor, ITV, Premier Foods, B&M, Watches of Switzerland“A big pullback in oil prices weighed on markets across Europe,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Traders focused on the prospect of a US/Iran nuclear deal which could see economic sanctions lifted on the latter and potentially lead to greater supplies of oil. That weighed on shares in BP and Shell which pulled down the FTSE 100...
14 May 2025
Why is the FTSE 100 beating the FTSE 250 so far this year (and over the past five years)?Most regions have fully recovered all the losses since the Liberation Day announcement on 2 April triggered a global market sell-off. However, if you look at performance since the start of the year it is clear markets aren’t moving in unison, with the US is a notable laggard.
Countries like Germany are racing ahead, with the Dax index up 19% year...
14 May 2025
Daily market update: Burberry, Compass, Imperial Brands“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Wednesday after mixed trading overnight in the US and Asia,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Significantly, the S&P 500 crept into positive territory for the year – no mean feat given the uncertainties and pressures facing financial markets. Investors are likely to be looking for further news on US trade...
13 May 2025
Daily market update: Marks & Spencer, DCC, On The Beach, Revolution Beauty“The party didn’t last long,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Having seen a strong start to the week on global markets following trade talks between the US and China, the rally has petered out. European markets were generally flat on Tuesday, big chunks of Asia pulled back, while futures prices imply a soggy start to trading on...
12 May 2025
The parts of the UK stock market left behind from market reboundOil producers, pharmaceutical companies and Vietnam-focused investment trusts have been left behind on the UK stock market as shares rebound across the world following the Liberation Day-triggered sell-off.
Most of the major indices globally have clawed back all the lost territory since Trump’s 2 April speech sent shockwaves across the investment...
12 May 2025
Daily market update: markets rally, US-China trade talk, India-Pakistan ceasefire“Markets have welcomed the tentative US-China trade agreement with open arms,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“While the trade spat has only been dialled back for 90 days, it’s a major breakthrough as far as investors are concerned. The fact the two countries were talking was already a major win given they’ve been at each other’s...
9 May 2025
Trade deal with UK as Fed hold rates, Disney steals the earnings showThe gains were modest but there were gains over the past week, something that has been in short supply for much of 2025. It was a narrow ‘general terms’ sort of a trade deal struck with the UK, described as the ‘first of many’, by president Trump, stoking hopes for a flurry of trade deals ahead.
Under the deal, the 10% tariff that was imposed on...
9 May 2025
Daily market update: UK market, US-China trade talks, IAG, Rightmove“With the UK having basked in trade deal glory yesterday, the spotlight has now turned to China,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“China is America’s biggest rival in the trade war and any sign of a compromise in their tit-for-tat tariff spat could be taken positively by markets. It would help to settle nerves and dial down...
8 May 2025
Russ Mould: A look at Imperial Brands, National Grid and United Utilities ahead of their upcoming resultsAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould, runs us through which companies are scheduled to report in the coming week with a particular focus on what to expect from Imperial Brands, National Grid and United Utilities.
8 May 2025
Daily market update: interest rate decisions, US chip restriction changes, Next“Investors are watching history unfold before their eyes,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Trump administration has already caused turmoil in the business world with the Liberation Day tariff plan. We’re now entering the next phase as countries do deals with the US, and Trump once again changes the rules as he rips up Joe...