26 September 2024
Russ Mould: What to expect from Greggs, Tesco and WetherspoonThe food and drink companies are set to update on trading next week
Shares & the stock market
26 September 2024
China rally goes into overdrive, oil prices retreat on fears of extra supply from Libya, Diageo jumps as things are bad but not getting any worse and Mitchells & Butlers faces sales slowdown“It’s a good day to be invested in the markets as major equity indices pushed ahead across Europe and Asia,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Fresh from big stimulus measures earlier in the week, all eyes remained focused on China amid talk that Beijing might inject up to 1 trillion yuan of capital into its top banks and to support...
25 September 2024
The elite group of British shares outperforming the UK stock marketThe UK stock market might be unloved but there are shares delivering strong returns. These include well-known British companies trading at or near record share price highs.
The US market has acted like a magnet in recent years and pulled investors away from the UK with the lure of fast-growth technology companies. A gloomier US economic outlook and...
25 September 2024
Markets pause for breath, Rightmove rejects third bid, activist grabs seat on Rentokil board, DFS still struggling, OECD offers glimmer of hope on UK economy“Banks, utilities and tobacco stocks were at the top of investors’ lists for trimming positions, causing the FTSE 100 to lose momentum. The index was flat at 8,280 despite the best efforts of mining stocks still enjoying a rally from China’s latest stimulus measures,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Futures prices imply a...
24 September 2024
Raspberry Pi passes first post-IPO test, Card Factory profit slumps and Smiths Group misses forecasts“China has been searching for solutions to its economic growth challenge for some time, and stimulus measures haven’t really worked. It’s gone from being a trailblazer with supersonic economic expansion to a country whose batteries were close to running out of energy. It’s now gone all-in with its bet on getting the economy back into top gear and...
23 September 2024
FTSE 100 steady, gold at record highs, third bid for Rightmove may not be high enough, Apollo eyes Intel investment and Alphawave IP revenue halves“The FTSE 100 was steady in early trading on Monday after seeing losses on Friday as US stocks slipped,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Investors are still weighing the Federal Reserve’s blockbuster 50 basis point interest rate cut last week, which was seen in some quarters as worrying about the state of the world’s largest economy...
20 September 2024
FTSE 100 lower as bumper retail sales overshadowed by worrying public debt and consumer confidence data, Nike replaces CEO and $8 billion wiped off value of FedEx“The FTSE 100 started off on the back foot on Friday despite record highs in the US overnight. The index was dragged lower by a surge in the pound which affects the relative value of constituents’ overseas earnings,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ regular warnings of ‘difficult decisions’ in the Budget will...
20 September 2024
Why the US Federal Reserve needs to get interest rates down (and fast)The US Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point is generally winning praise for the signals it sends on the fight against inflation and the pre-emptive, pro-growth nature of the move but it just may be that the central bank has little option, owing to America’s ballooning budget deficit.
Another row over the debt...
19 September 2024
Two million to pay tax on cash savings interestThe number of people having to pay tax on their savings will almost double over two years to the end of the current tax year, a Freedom of Information request from AJ Bell can reveal. More people will be pushed into paying tax on their savings as interest rates have risen and people hit their tax-free limit.
The Personal Savings Allowances...
19 September 2024
Russ Mould: why gold is trading near record highsGold miners are also in demand thanks to takeover activity.
19 September 2024
Fed ditches laggard reputation with bold rate cut, markets respond favourably, Next upgrades guidance after bumper first half and Ocado Retail shines in third quarter“Central banks have a reputation of moving at a snail’s pace, spending too long analysing data and subsequently playing catch-up with their monetary policy decisions. It feels as if the Federal Reserve has had enough of this criticism and wants to be seen in a different light. A half-percentage point interest rate cut is certainly not messing...
18 September 2024
America’s bond market could be flagging trouble ahead for its stock marketOne of the most intriguing facets of financial markets of the past two years has been the differing messages offered by bond yields and share prices.
The US bond market has been predicting a recession. The American stock market has instead priced in a cooling in inflation, a gentle economic landing and a pivot to interest rate cuts from central...
18 September 2024
Investors focus on rate cuts, Legal & General’s Cala sale disappoints, bid talk lifts Advanced Medical Solutions, Games Workshop’s bare bones approach, AI IPO for UK and PZ Cussons’ woes“While the Federal Reserve will almost certainly cut US interest rates today, it seems the chances of the Bank of England following suit with UK rates tomorrow have weakened after the publication of new inflation data,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Services inflation arguably remains too high to warrant another cut from the...
17 September 2024
Risk-on mood sees widespread gains on FTSE 100, Microsoft surprises with $60 billion buyback, Kingfisher soars on upgraded guidance and Essentra at risk of losing FTSE 250 place“European equity indices pushed ahead on Tuesday, including a 0.75% increase in the FTSE 100 as investors were in a risk-on mood. Banks, commodity producers and consumer-facing companies helped lead the charge ahead of the all-important US interest rate decision tomorrow,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Gains were seen across...
16 September 2024
Markets tread water ahead of rate decisions, UK housing strength faces big test, TI Fluid is latest UK takeover target and Playtech shares jump“Markets have not shown any panic after yesterday’s apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Futures prices imply a fairly muted session when Wall Street opens on Monday, while there were only minimal changes to the major equity indices in Asia and Europe.
“The key focus for investors this...
13 September 2024
FTSE 100 ticks higher as gold reaches new highs, Flutter Entertainment bets on Brazil, Vodafone and Three merger in doubt as CMA demands remedies“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Friday, putting the index on course for a solid if unspectacular week of gains,” says AJ Bell investment director, Russ Mould.
“Precious metals miners led the way as gold reached new heights, while bargain hunters seemingly took advantage of the recent sell-offs at Burberry and Rentokil.
“ Flutter Entertainment’s bet...
12 September 2024
Three priorities for Labour’s first BudgetThe first Budget for new Chancellor Rachel Reeves is coming at the end of October. The rumour mill has already geared up with speculation on what could be included, but we’ve laid out three key areas the Government could focus on when it comes to people’s investments and savings.
ISA simplificationAt a time when government is facing significant...
12 September 2024
Why markets are getting nervous as the first US rate cut draws nearA third consecutive interest rate cut from the Bank of Canada continues the trend toward lower headline borrowing costs, and the number of rate cuts this year already exceeds the total of 2022 and 2023 combined.
The US Federal Reserve is dropping very unsubtle hints that it will be reducing the cost of borrowing at the next meeting of the Federal...
12 September 2024
FTSE 100 higher with US inflation at its lowest level in more than three years, Trainline soars on positive trading update, Fevertree lowers revenue guidance“The FTSE 100 bounced back sharply on Thursday following a strong session in Asia and Wall Street overnight, after US inflation fell to its lowest level in more than three years,” says AJ Bell investment director, Russ Mould.
“This has left the way clear for interest rate cuts in the US. A 50 basis-point cut by the Fed seems to be off the table for...
12 September 2024
Russ Mould: What to expect from Next’s and Ocado’s updatesThe two companies can tell us a lot about consumer spending habits.
11 September 2024
Will the UK stock market race higher after St Leger Day?The 248th running of the St Leger is due to take place at its traditional home of Town Moor, Doncaster on Saturday and the stable of trainer Aiden O’Brien has a stranglehold on the big race, as the masterful Irishman trains the first three in the betting. Stock market investors will be keeping an eye on the event for different reasons, given the...
11 September 2024
Why Apple’s new iPhone 16 matters to investorsScience-fiction writer Douglas Adams may not have been a massive fan of technology, judging by his jibe that “a mobile phone needs a manual in a way that a teacup doesn’t,” but stock market investors had very high hopes for the launch of Apple’s iPhone 16. Now we’ve got all the information on the new device, some investors might be asking whether...
11 September 2024
Election debate fails to unnerve markets, Rightmove rejects bid proposal, Zara owner Inditex upbeat, WH Smith bounces back, Rentokil warns, Dunelm soldiers on“News the UK economy flatlined in July, against expectations for a modest increase in activity, painted a negative picture for the domestic-facing companies on the UK market. However, the FTSE 100 got a boost from a dip in the pound as a large number of its constituents earn much of their revenue overseas,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at...
10 September 2024
FTSE 100 goes into reverse, UK jobs data leaves rate cut decision finely balanced, Apple fails to win over the market with new product launches, takeover offer for gold producer Centamin“The FTSE 100 went into reverse on Tuesday, despite some modest gains in the US overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The move hints at some lingering nervousness in the market after an up and down period for global stocks since the start of August.
“Tomorrow’s US inflation figures could be the next key test of investor...
9 September 2024
FTSE 100 higher, Entain soars, EasyJet caught up in air traffic disruption, Barratt and Lloyds unveil housing venture, TGI Fridays’ UK operator sees shares slump 90% in a day“The FTSE 100 got off to a strong start on Monday, helped by strength in the resources space as oil prices bounced from their recent lows,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The index had endured some weakness last Friday as US non-farm payrolls came in below expectations. The outcome seemed to cause the market concern that the US...
