Shares & the stock market

28 August 2025

Every year without fail we get products that fly off the shelves. Thanks to social media, it doesn’t take long for the word to get around and certain items to go viral. This hype fuels demand, making these items even more desirable.

Companies love nothing more than for their products to be the talk of the town. Going viral can mean a bump in sales...

28 August 2025

“The UK market was steady on Thursday morning after mixed trading in Asia and modest gains on Wall Street overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“ Nvidia may have taken a bit of a tumble as its earnings proved mixed but that didn’t damage investor sentiment too much on a broader scale.

“A modest recovery in the dollar, despite the...

27 August 2025

“A small rally on Wall Street last night set the tone for a calmer session in Europe on Wednesday,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“Trump’s latest meddling with the Federal Reserve had threatened to cast a dark cloud over global markets, yet investors didn’t enter the panic zone.

“The FTSE 100 advanced 0.2% to 9,280, led by oil...

26 August 2025

“A jump in US Treasury yields indicates that bond investors aren’t happy about how Trump continues to meddle with the Fed and threaten its independence,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“Equity markets were in the red across Europe and Asia, and futures prices imply Wall Street will follow suit when it opens for trading later today...

22 August 2025

AI enthusiasm has been the primary driver of gains in the market recently, but US equities appear to be entering bubble territory, according to some experts, leaving leading US indexes limp.

The S&P 500 extended its losing streak to five days on 21 August, pressured by a fall in retail and tech stocks and concerns about the trajectory of interest...

22 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 saw a subdued start on Friday after achieving a record close above 9,300 yesterday,” says AJ Bell Investment Analyst Dan Coatsworth.

“This followed more selling on Wall Street overnight, albeit of moderate persuasion, as investors fret about the message Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell might deliver at the Jackson Hole summit.

“Inv...

21 August 2025

“It’s not too often that the FTSE 100’s lack of technology exposure is a virtue but it has been this week,” says AJ Bell Investment Analyst Dan Coatsworth.

“Amid selling in Europe and the US, the UK’s flagship index tested new highs above 9,300. Old world economy stocks like banks, energy companies and insurers have been to the fore – with their...

20 August 2025

“Despite the sell-off in the US overnight, emanating from the technology sector, UK stocks were pretty steady in early trading on Wednesday,” says AJ Bell head of financial analysis, Danni Hewson.

“The index was not helped by the hotter than expected UK inflation report – which gave sterling a modest lift. A stronger pound hits the relative value...

19 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 dipped a little in early trading after selling on Wall Street and in Asia overnight,” says AJ Bell head of financial analysis Danni Hewson.

“Markets seem to be exercising some caution ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting later this week and as talks over a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine remain inconclusive.

“Earnings from...

18 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Monday morning but was still firmly below the intraday record highs achieved on Friday morning,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

“Any optimism that the summit between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin would yield immediate progress towards a peace deal proved misplaced, but the market will...

15 August 2025

US stocks climbed to new highs this week with the small cap Russell 2000 index leading the gains on expectations for a rate cut at the September meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers.

Futures markets priced in more than a 90% chance of a quarter of a percentage point cut to official rates after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg...

15 August 2025

“It is not often that the market’s attention is centred on Alaska but the US state will be firmly in focus on Friday as President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin meet to discuss the Ukraine conflict,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Any outcomes will not come until after UK markets have concluded trading for the day but...

14 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 dipped from yesterday’s record close on Thursday morning after gains on Wall Street and mixed trading in Asia overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Increased hopes for interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve helped US indices to advance on Wednesday, though some of that momentum had evaporated by the time Asian...

13 August 2025

“Animal spirits are definitely in charge of the market right now, as investors embrace the potential for the Fed to cut interest rates in the wake of what was seen as a soft inflation reading in the US,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“The US central bank still remains in cautious mode, waiting to observe if tariffs stoke a pick...

12 August 2025

“Markets reacted with relief to news of an extension on the US-China trade deadline which was set to expire today,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“However, this relief was measured given the market had largely anticipated such an outcome. Asian stocks were higher overnight and the FTSE 100 got a boost from a mining sector whose...

11 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 made a decent start to the trading week as some recent laggards attracted attention from bargain hunters,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“The market seems very relaxed ahead of tomorrow’s deadline on US-China trade talks, reflecting the assumption an extension is in the offing and a deal will eventually be reached...

8 August 2025

It was another strong week for US stock indices as technology shares continue to lift the mood in New York and markets looked past the latest news on tariffs.

Yet tariffs remain a real issue for investors, with reciprocal levies against a host of major trading partners taking effect from 7 August, keeping markets on edge over their potential impact...

8 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 was just about keeping its head above water to stay above the 9,100 mark on Friday morning,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.

“Overall it has been a mixed week for the index with the split vote and hawkish tone adopted by the Bank of England yesterday lifting sterling and hitting the relative value of the Footsie...

7 August 2025

This summer, the UK has been enjoying its time in the sun. Not just through good weather but also for the stock market, which reached an end of day high on 24 July and an intraday high on the 31st. Some investors may be considering how to get a piece of the pie.

Adding to the appeal of the home market is a weakened US dollar, creating currency risk...

7 August 2025

“The FTSE 100 is struggling to make meaningful progress this week, running to stand still as investors weigh the latest economic, geopolitical and corporate developments,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.

“Not helping today was several heavyweight names trading without the rights to their dividend. This held the index back...

6 August 2025

“After running out of steam and slipping into the red in the latter part of yesterday’s trading session, the FTSE 100 made another modest move higher on Wednesday,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.

“Concern around tariffs continues to swirl as Indian stocks slipped thanks to Trump administration threats to impose higher levies...