Shares & the stock market

6 September 2024

Markets jittery ahead of US jobs data, 7-Eleven owner rejects bid, Darktrace CEO quits, Berkeley sticks with profit guidance as UK house prices near record high, Next 15 hit by loss of major contract

“Today’s release of new US jobs data could have a significant influence on the direction of shares around the world. Concerns about economic weakness in the US have already led to two big shockwaves on the stock market in the past few months, and there is a potential for more tremors if the data looks bleak,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at...

5 September 2024

Tesla shares boosted as Ticketmaster faces competition probe into Oasis pricing tactics

“There’s been a bit more optimism around from investors today, but confidence feels tenuous after the volatility of the last couple of days.” comments Danni Hewson, AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis.

“Data pointing to a robust US service sector and a fall in weekly jobless claims has gone some way to allay fears of a slowdown but it’s a bit of a...

5 September 2024

Russ Mould: what to expect when three UK retailers report next week

Primark-owner Associated British Foods, Dunelm and WH Smith all issue trading updates or financial results.

5 September 2024

Markets calmer after recent sell-off, EasyJet escapes FTSE 100 relegation, Royal Mail in potential Ofcom breakthrough, ASOS sells Topshop stake, Primark reveals soggy sales, Jet2’s visibility clouded

“More stable market conditions were welcome after the recent sell-off, with tentative signs that some investors might be shifting their mindset from panic to a state of calm,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“ Nvidia was among the big names caught up in the sell-off and pre-market trading on Thursday showed a small rebound in its...

5 September 2024

Which global equity sectors are the peak performers?

Investors continue to grapple with whether technology stocks are in a bubble or not, and how their future performance could influence global stock markets more widely, but tech is not the only sector trading at or near all-time highs.

Many investors take the view that a ‘bad’ stock in a ‘good’ (or fashionable) sector will outperform a ‘good’ stock...

4 September 2024

Investors shaken by another big drop in the US stock market, Nvidia sees near-10% one-day decline, Barratt Developments profits slump

“A near-10% one-day decline in Nvidia’s shares and a 3.3% drop in the Nasdaq index illustrate the fragility of the market. It goes to show that everything was not back to normal after markets quickly rebounded from their summer wobble, even thought it might have looked fine on the surface,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“Investo...

3 September 2024

Chancellor promises 'tax roadmap' for business as retailers get a boost from August spending uptick

“It’s tough for UK businesses to get fired up when there’s still so much gloom around.” comments Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell

“Today Chancellor Rachel Reeves took a couple of important but tentative steps forward, promising to make good on Labour’s manifesto pledge to deliver a ‘tax roadmap’ for businesses and reiterating...

3 September 2024

Rolls-Royce bounces back despite ongoing engine issues, Ryanair sees record month, Ashtead on track, Watches of Switzerland says luxury demand bottoming out

“A decent session last night on Wall Street failed to extend to Europe on Tuesday, with most of the major indices only showing marginal gains,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“This might reflect a sense of caution from investors ahead of major economic news this week from the US in the form of jobs, services and manufacturing data...

2 September 2024

September could be key for markets, Live Nation under pressure over ticket pricing, Volkswagen weighs German plant closures

“Markets have shuffled into September, a month which could deliver the decisive moment of the year if the Fed follows through on its rumblings that a rate cut is nigh” comments Danni Hewson, AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis.

“After last month’s early market meltdown there’s still a degree of restraint from investors waiting to see how the next...

2 September 2024

FTSE 100 lower as Asian stocks fall on weak Chinese manufacturing data, Vertu warns of difficult first-half, Rightmove attracts takeover interest

“The FTSE 100 dipped on Monday after weak Chinese manufacturing figures put Asian stocks on the back foot overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould.

“The world’s second largest economy may be trying to wean itself off its reliance on export demand by stoking domestic consumption. But this is proving a tricky process and exports were...

30 August 2024

FTSE 100 higher as China considers mortgage reforms, house prices see biggest annual increase since December 2022, Lululemon avoids catastrophe, Dell boosted by AI server demand

“The FTSE 100 made a strong start to proceedings on Friday with Asian-focused financial firms HSBC and Prudential in demand,” says AJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould.

“This followed reports of reform in the Chinese mortgage market, which helped lift shares in the world’s second largest economy.

“In the UK, house prices rose at their fastest...

29 August 2024

Nvidia narrows share price losses, US GDP upgrade welcomed with open arms by investors, talk of Shell job cuts, Dollar General slumps and Birkenstock disappoints Tech Stocks / Nvidia / US GDP Figures

“ Nvidia managed to claw back some of the big share price losses seen in after-hours trading after its results were published last night. That suggests investors have taken time to consider the pros and cons of the numbers and commentary, with many deciding the AI party is far from over,” says Dan Coatsworth...

29 August 2024

Russ Mould: The key jobs data to watch over the coming week

The figures could play an important role in deciding when US interest rates will be cut.

29 August 2024

FTSE 100 higher despite US tech sell-off, regulatory probe into Drax over, CrowdStrike suffers fallout from global IT outage, brandy makers toast China backdown and Salesforce beats expectations

“The FTSE 100 ticked higher despite a technology-led sell-off in the US overnight and a negative after-hours reaction to Nvidia’s results – the lack of tech stocks in the UK index proving a rare boon on Thursday morning,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Consumer-facing names were getting some love from the market along with resources...

29 August 2024

Nvidia shares slump despite delivering another quarter of growth and new $50 billion share buyback

Investors want more, more and more when it comes to Nvidia. Despite the company’s best efforts to talk up the opportunities once again around AI, it wasn’t enough to prevent a share price sell-off following its latest results.

Nvidia has lived up to its name and hit the ‘Magnificent’ seven quarters in a row where earnings have beaten the consensus...

28 August 2024

FTSE lags rest of Europe, Frasers eyes world domination, GSK shares up on legal appeal, Prudential maintains guidance despite stalling growth and Hyundai to capitalise on hybrid boom

“After showing resilience in the face of volatility on global markets in recent months, the FTSE 100 was the odd one out on Wednesday among major European indices,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

“It failed to hitch a ride that propelled markets in Germany, France and Spain. The FTSE 100 sat firmly on its hands as strength in...

27 August 2024

Bunzl shares blast to new all-time high

“A second increase to sales and profits guidance for the year to March 2025, a higher dividend and a share buyback programme are helping to drive Bunzl’s shares to new all-time highs, thanks in part to select acquisitions,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

“Bunzl’s track record with making the most of its purchases is good, not least...

27 August 2024

Three ways to spot cheap shares and generous income payers

Whether you want to generate extra money to pay for school fees, fund next year’s big family holiday or you are saving up for another reason, investing is a great way to build your wealth.

Certain investors will already know where they want to put their money, but others might be looking for inspiration. If you’re looking for ways to get going...

27 August 2024

Property stocks sink on Starmer’s gloomy speech, Oasis reunion set to boost UK economy

“While Labour’s pro-housing policies are theoretically positive for property developers, investors didn’t like the tone of Keir Starmer’s latest speech and a sea of red engulfed shares in the property space,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.

“The prime minister’s tough talk on things getting worse before they get better might...

27 August 2024

Why silicon chip sales are a good guide to global economic activity

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index – known as the SOX – is a useful guide to both global economic activity and equity investors’ risk appetite and it could be worth keeping an eye on the benchmark, especially as Nvidia is one of its biggest constituents and the AI-leader is reporting its latest quarterly results this week.

Nvidia could have a...

27 August 2024

Oil price surge boosts FTSE 100, BHP beats expectations, shares crash in Temu-owner PDD, Bunzl boosted by bumper buyback and Ocado enjoys Australian success

“The FTSE 100 got off to a strong post-Bank Holiday start, lifted by its healthy contingent of resources companies,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Index heavyweights BP and Shell were higher as heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, along with outages in Libya, saw oil prices surge back above $80...

23 August 2024

Natural resources stocks lift FTSE ahead of Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole and Nestlé boss departs after tricky year

“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Friday, gradually clawing its way back towards the all-time highs it made in May,” says AJ Bell investment analyst Dan Coatsworth.

“The progress of the index was largely driven by natural resources stocks and came despite some weakness on Wall Street overnight. Hopes of a blockbuster 50 basis points first rate cut...

22 August 2024

Prudential first-half results: Wednesday 28 August

Prudential’s shares are down by a third over the past year and languish at 12-year lows, dragged down by markets’ disappointment with how the economies of Hong Kong and China are failing to show markedly improved momentum after the conclusion of their lengthy lockdowns imposed because of covid-19.

After the spin-offs of London-headquartered fund...

22 August 2024

Key results and updates this week: JD Sports, Target, McDonald’s, Estee Lauder, Palo Alto

While many investors enjoy the final part of their summer holiday, the business world does not stop and we’ve had updates from big-name companies over the past week. Some impressed and some left investors underwhelmed. We cover the key movers in this article.

JD Sports shows there is still life in athleisure

There was a sense of nervousness in the...

22 August 2024

Traders still not entirely convinced on near-term US rate cut, big-name stocks trade without right to next dividend and relief as JD Sports avoids athleisure slump

“The Fed might have given its strongest signal yet that it is ready to start cutting interest rates, but the market isn’t going all-in with its bet on monetary policy,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.

“Traders are still only pricing in a 67.5% probability of a US rate cut at the Fed’s next meeting on 18 September. One could...