7 January 2025
FTSE 100 dividend cover decreases as profit and dividend forecasts slipThe FTSE 100 was up by almost 6% in 2024 and is offering a forecast dividend yield of some 3.6% on top of that, to provide a steady double-digit percentage return. Analysts expect £78.5 billion in dividends from the FTSE 100 in 2024, before a 6.5% increase in 2025 to £83.6 billion.
The FTSE 100’s forecast aggregate dividend payment for 2024 lies...
6 January 2025
FTSE in the red, Unilever leads sell-off in big brand companies, Rolls-Royce hit by broker downgrade, Aldi’s new threat for Sainsbury’s and Tesco and IPO data shows challenge ahead for London market“The FTSE 100 started the week on the back foot, dragged down by consumer non-cyclicals, basic materials and industrials,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Share price weakness in big brand companies including Unilever, Reckitt and Haleon is often a signal that investors are worried about consumer spending and growing inflationary...
3 January 2025
FTSE 100 lower as miners slip, Biden set to block US Steel takeover, more bad news for retail sector, Next hit by negative broker comment and Wizz Air and Ryanair passengers up in December“The FTSE 100 failed to maintain recent momentum as weakness in the mining sector put the index on the back foot,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Miners’ fortunes are closely tied to the commodity-hungry Chinese economy where faltering stimulus efforts, uneven economic data, and the threat of tariffs continue to raise questions about...
3 January 2025
The outlook for shares, bonds, cash, gold and bitcoin in 2025Whether we like it or not, the US isn’t just the bellwether for the global stock market — it’s most of the herd given the country’s market value represents 70% of the MSCI World index.
The likelihood is that Donald Trump will push through lower corporate taxes and deregulation, which should be positive for US stocks, though at least a portion of...
2 January 2025
The most popular funds with AJ Bell customers over the past yearIs the era of the star fund manager confined to the history books? The star is no longer shining bright, according to the investment choices of AJ Bell DIY investors over the past year.
There is only one product in the top 10 most popular open-ended equity funds actively managed by an individual or individuals picking stocks, and only three names...
2 January 2025
Asia shares retreat, Lidl and Marks & Spencer in focus, housebuilders’ mixed reaction to property price data and Revolution Beauty settles spat with former shareholder“January can be a testing time for markets and that’s already proved the case with Asian equities as investors fret about the impact of Donald Trump’s trade policies,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Shanghai SE index fell 2.7% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.2%. Technology and industrial stocks were among the areas...
30 December 2024
Russ Mould: Five themes to watch in 2025Investors should watch these areas closely as they could have a big influence on markets.
20 December 2024
FTSE 100 lower after US and Asian weakness, retail sales sluggish in November, day of destiny for Boohoo and Frasers and Nike beats but warns of lengthy turnaround“The FTSE 100 was sharply lower again on Friday, dragged down by water utilities and banks after uneven trading in Asia and the US overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“In a sign of risk-off sentiment, cryptocurrency bitcoin slipped below the $100,000 mark.
“A marginal rise in November retail sales was not helped by the fact...
19 December 2024
Russ Mould: Five trends that dominated markets in 2024Discover why they mattered and what we can learn from them.
19 December 2024
Fed rates comment triggers Wall Street sell-off, FTSE 100 follows suit, no Bank of England cut expected today, water companies get bills boost, Serco sees bumper pipeline“Markets are normally good at reading the signs, but the sell-off on Wall Street last night would suggest investors had started on the Christmas sherry a bit early and were caught out by the Fed’s announcement about where rates might go in 2025,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The prospect of a slowdown in interest rate cuts was...
18 December 2024
Five themes for investors to watch in 2025Perhaps, thanks to AI, investors need to consider the words of American industrialist J. Paul Getty, who once asserted, ‘In times of rapid change, experience can be your worst enemy,’ because those who are sticking to long-held valuation disciplines are getting left behind as US equities generally, AI-related names more specifically and...
18 December 2024
FTSE up on sterling weakness, no shock with UK inflation, Shoe Zone halves profit guidance, Nissan and Honda in merger talks, National Grid unveils £35 billion plan and Kingfisher sells Romanian arm“A weaker pound following the latest UK inflation figures gave a boost to the FTSE 100 and its bounty of dollar earners. The UK index rose 0.2% to 8,208, led by Shell and BP, with Ashtead among the big US-focused players giving support,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“UK inflation at an eight-month high sounds dramatic yet the...
17 December 2024
Five key lessons to take from financial markets in 2024In some ways 2024 was unusual, because the consensus macroeconomic view played out exactly as expected – inflation cooled, there was no deep economic downturn (or even a downturn of any real kind) and interest rates started to fall, says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
As a result, investors did not have to change much if they were to...
17 December 2024
FTSE dragged down by energy sector, Bunzl warns over deflation shock, Indivior bows to investor pressure, Capita’s cash outflow troubles market, Chemring margins slip and Hollywood Bowl hit by mini-golf write-off“Energy and pharma stocks weighed on the FTSE 100, causing the index to fall 0.7% to 8,203,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Investors are growing concerned that China’s bold plan to grow its economy faster isn’t working and that spells weaker demand for commodities.”
Bunzl“It’s rare to see Bunzl doing anything other than plod...
16 December 2024
Royal Mail takeover clears major hurdle, Canal+ makes UK market debut, Computacenter CFO departs suddenly, Bitcoin hits $106,000, activists put pressure on Johnson Matthey, Entain hit and Saga hopes Ageas deal will boost insurance arm“The FTSE 100 dipped 0.2% to 8,285 despite the best efforts of the pharma and banking sectors to take the UK index forwards. Energy stocks acted as a drag while Diageo also gave up some of its recent gains,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Chinese consumers still aren’t splashing the cash, representing yet more evidence that...
16 December 2024
Most popular stocks of 2024 among AJ Bell DIY investorsInvestors continue to show a keen interest in opportunities Stateside, with half of the top 10 most popular stocks among AJ Bell DIY investors being listed in the US.
Nvidia topped the list as investors sought ways to play the AI theme, which has gone from strength to strength. The chip specialist continued to churn out good news and analysts raced...
13 December 2024
UK takeovers surge in 2024 as bidders circle the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.
A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their...
13 December 2024
FTSE higher despite selling in US and Asia, HSBC’s retail rethink, Broadcom shares soar on AI boost, Tullow in takeover talks, cracks on display at Portmeirion“Despite weakness overnight in the US and Asia, UK stocks ticked higher on Friday, lifted by gains for financials and some areas of the retail sector,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell .
“The Budget continued to be blamed for the UK’s fragile economic performance as official figures showed GDP unexpectedly contracted in October...
13 December 2024
Russ Mould: What to expect from Bunzl’s trading update next weekThe FTSE 100 company plays an important role in the day-to-day activities of supermarkets, hospitals and more.
12 December 2024
FTSE 100 higher as Nasdaq smashes through 20,000, Currys upbeat despite Budget pressures, C&C appoints soft drinks industry legend, Boohoo continues Frasers battle, Drax agrees US aviation deal“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Thursday after US stocks chalked up another landmark. The Nasdaq index yesterday smashed through the 20,000 barrier for the first time,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“The catalyst for the tech-driven rally was a benign inflation reading. This fuelled expectations for an interest rate cut when...
12 December 2024
Revealed: the FTSE 350 stocks with the biggest dividend growth in 2024Ten companies in the FTSE 350 rewarded shareholders with at least 50% higher dividends in 2024, according to analysis by AJ Bell. Five of these companies more than doubled the payout, making it a prosperous year for investors,
Dividends are a key component of successful investing whether taken as an income to support retirement or reinvested to...
11 December 2024
FTSE stuck in the mud, International Consolidated Airlines flies higher, British American Tobacco reassures, TUI celebrates record year, Kainos shares jump after bringing back its former CEO“The FTSE 100 extended yesterday’s losing streak with a further 0.3% decline to 8,253 as oil, pharma and banks dragged the market down,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“After a good start to the year, the UK index has stubbornly remained in a small trading range since June.
“Despite the overall market being stuck in the mud...
10 December 2024
FTSE 100: best and worst performers in a strong year for UK blue chip stocksThe FTSE 100 has enjoyed its best year since 2021 with an 11.4% total return, driven by a mixture of companies delivering good news and takeover activity.
Eighteen FTSE 100 stocks have generated a total return in excess of 30% and approximately half of the index (48 stocks) has produced a double-digit return. Nearly two-thirds (63 stocks) made...
10 December 2024
China woes hit FTSE 100, Ashtead to shift main stock listing to the US, Moonpig setback, Games Workshop agrees Amazon deal and reports link Cadbury-owner to Hershey’s“The FTSE 100 was in the red amid concerns that China’s economic stimulus measures might not have a long-lasting effect,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“That triggered a sell-off in miners as investors worried that the Asian superpower wouldn’t have strong enough economic activity to drive a big increase in commodities demand...
9 December 2024
FTSE 100 outperforms US markets, defence stocks pull back on Trump Ukraine comments and Hershey’s shares jump amid takeover rumours“It’s been a funny old day for markets as London’s FTSE 100 has enjoyed what’s felt like a rare occurrence of late and outperformed US markets,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.
“China was the day’s double-edged sword with miners and big oil giants listed on London’s blue-chip index buoyed by expectation of further stimulus to...