24 April 2024
AB Foods serves up strong first-half results“The FTSE 100’s advance to new all-time highs (despite what feels like incessantly bearish commentary on companies looking to leave the UK or list elsewhere) is grabbing all of the headlines, but stock markets are really a market of stocks and for indices to rise, share prices must rise. A surge in Associated British Foods’ shares to their highest...
24 April 2024
Tesla shares rocket, Reckitt hints at customers trading up and Jet2 warns of more competitive pricing“The FTSE 100 continues to enjoy a robust showing, this time led by resources stocks and a well-received update from Reckitt,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Markets seem to have put a wobble inspired by Middle East tensions and interest rate worries behind them for now, with Friday’s core PCE reading of US inflation the next key...
22 April 2024
Ocado reportedly under pressure to switch to US listing, counteroffer for Hipgnosis, US bid for Tyman, and Mobico results finally see light“The FTSE 100 bounced back strongly on Monday amid relief that tensions in the Middle East seem to have been contained for now,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Travel and retail stocks were among the gainers on the FTSE 100, with precious metals miner Fresnillo the only stock showing notable weakness, with gold and silver prices...
19 April 2024
Oil eases after initial surge, Netflix shares fall on subscriber guidance, big losses in Japan and 888 revenue ahead of forecasts“The FTSE 100 opened lower amid fluctuating tensions in the Middle East as markets tried to gauge the likelihood of further escalation,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Oil prices were briefly above $90 per barrel before easing while gold moved within touching distance of all-time highs. A combination of chip stocks tanking on...
18 April 2024
Investors prepare for Netflix update, UK airlines fly high and Rentokil's US operations fall short of expectations“While Netflix may not be a member of the feted Magnificent Seven group of US tech giants, a positive update when it reports later today will still help kick earnings season up a gear and spread some much-needed good cheer around Wall Street, which is still feeling a bit off colour after its rate cut reset,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis...
18 April 2024
ASOS looks to better times ahead“Fast-fashion retailer ASOS is sticking to its full-year guidance for sales growth, its preferred profit measure and cash flow, so the shares are rising sharply, thanks to the absence of any further bad news in the first-half results,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Granted, they were trading at their lowest mark since 2009 ahead of...
18 April 2024
Russ Mould: Why Lloyds’ profit is expected to fallWhat to expect from the forthcoming banking sector results.
18 April 2024
Favourite funds update - April 2024The AJ Bell Favourite funds list is designed to lighten your research load. There are thousands of funds out there – so we’ve narrowed the field by selecting a high-quality shortlist of funds we believe can deliver their objectives over the long term. To make the list, each fund needs to pass our robust, independent selection process.
What have we...
18 April 2024
FTSE 100 makes gains, Hipgnosis accepts bid, EasyJet narrows losses, Deliveroo on track and Dunelm flags difficult market conditions“The FTSE 100 extended yesterday’s positive momentum with a further 0.5% gain to 7,890 in early trading, powered by pharma, banking and consumer goods stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The breadth of the market gains across all sectors apart from energy and industrials would suggest widespread recovery in investor...
17 April 2024
UK stocks fight back, Royal Mail bid approach, Tesla returns to $56 billion pay deal for Elon Musk days after big workforce cull and travel sector flies on United Airlines’ results“After a slow start, the UK stock market eventually burst into life and the FTSE 100 headed back on the right path towards the all-important 8,000 level. However, it lost momentum in the final part of the session,” says AJ Bell Investment Analyst Dan Coatsworth.
“The mid cap FTSE 250 index also revved up and then spluttered as investors digested a...
17 April 2024
UK IPOs have significantly outperformed the FTSE All-Share this yearStocks that joined the UK stock market in 2024 have generated more than six times the return achieved by the FTSE All-Share since the start of January, according to analysis by AJ Bell. Of the five IPOs seen in London year-to-date, the average return is 16.4% compared with 2.5% from the benchmark UK index.
This upbeat performance is seen against a...
17 April 2024
Markets calm after yesterday’s washout, ASML disappoints, ASOS stuck in the discount habit, Just Eat Takeaway serves up a mixed dish and Entain hit by regulatory pressures“There was no rebound of any substance in European markets after yesterday’s washout session,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The main indices saw small gains, but nothing to write home about. That said, a sense of calm is still welcome following heightened volatility.
“The FTSE 100 nudged up 0.1% to 7,829 with mining stocks...
16 April 2024
FTSE 100 slumps ahead of inflation data, Morgan Stanley sees profit boost and Bank of America shares slip back“It’s been a torrid day for London markets with the FTSE 100 slumping by almost 2% just days after flirting with record highs,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“Few companies managed to avoid the rout with blue sky optimism drowned out by a weakening labour market and geopolitical risk. Growth darlings Ocado and Scottish...
16 April 2024
Markets lower on wage growth shock, Superdry to delist, DS Smith to be 2024’s first FTSE 100 takeover, B&M disappoints, Hostmore feasts on TGI Friday’s, Dr Martens CEO steps down and Moneysupermarket posts mixed results“The FTSE 100 slumped amid concerns about escalation in the Middle East and higher than expected wage growth,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.
“Despite the labour market cooling, pay inflation remains relatively stubborn and this will concern the Bank of England as it could be a sign of a rising price environment becoming more...
15 April 2024
Profits jump at Goldman Sachs, oil price cools for now and Tesla lays off workers“After Friday’s Wall Street sell-off markets have regained some optimism despite escalating tensions in the Middle East,” says Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell.
“A strong performance by Goldman Sachs has helped calm sentiment further, switching the focus back to company performance and the current earnings season.
“Clear signs...
15 April 2024
FTSE 100 dips but market retains calm amid rising geopolitical tensions, Inchcape sells UK car retail operation, Horizonte facing exit from UK market and PageGroup slammed by headwinds in jobs market“The markets started the week with relative calm after news of Iranian strikes on Israel over the weekend,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Oil prices had risen in anticipation of Iran’s action but have fallen back, though gold prices remain near record highs which hints at continuing nervousness among investors. The situation remains...
12 April 2024
UK stocks up on GDP joy and mining rally, metal prices continue to rise, Asia hit by rate worries and banks to kick off US reporting season“There were divergent fortunes for the UK and Asia as the trading week drew to a close,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The second monthly GDP increase in a row for the UK has triggered a ticker tape parade from investors as they become more hopeful the country will come out of recession.
“Both the FTSE 100 and the more...
11 April 2024
ECB holds rates but hints at potential cuts as investors await UK GDP figures“If only investors possessed a crystal ball, all the speculation about when and if rate cuts might materialise would be put to bed,” says Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell.
“Sadly, we’re stuck with trying to decipher the vagaries of inflation and pick our way carefully between the lines of central banker comments.
“Today the ECB...
11 April 2024
Is it time to start surfing the silver price?“Cocoa’s meteoric rise may be dominating the attentions of commodity traders, as will renewed gains in copper, oil and gold, but silver may also start to creep onto their radar, as the precious metal nears a five-year high,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“This could yet capture the imagination of stock market investors, too, at least...
11 April 2024
Markets calm down after yesterday’s inflation drama, AstraZeneca dangles dividend carrot ahead of CEO pay vote and Lok’nStore the latest UK takeover target“After yesterday’s US inflation figures knocked the market for six, it’s no wonder that equities struggled for direction on Thursday,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Hotter than expected inflation data has given the Federal Reserve yet another reason to sit on its hands and kick the prospect of a rate cut further down the road...
10 April 2024
Russ Mould: Why the jobs market is important for the direction of stocks and sharesTrading updates from recruitment companies could provide clues on what central banks are thinking about employment and when to cut interest rates.
10 April 2024
Sticky US inflation changes the game as markets reassess rate cuts narrative“It’s hard for investors to hang onto their sunny disposition when inflation keeps raining off the planned rate cut parade,” says Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell.
“The latest US consumer prices data came in hotter than expected at 3.5%, giving plenty for the Atlanta Fed’s sticky index to pore over. That stickiness sent market...
10 April 2024
Markets upbeat ahead of US inflation data, Tesco results given thumbs-up by investors“Having shown signs of nervousness at the start of the week, investors have got more into the groove as we approach the publication of US inflation figures. European equities pushed ahead on Wednesday, building on a robust showing on Wall Street last night,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The inflation figures could still knock...
9 April 2024
US equities turn red ahead of inflation data and sell-off in defence stocks puts BAE Systems at bottom of FTSE 100 leaderboard“A cautious start to the day for European equities set the tone for Wall Street with US shares in the red as trading began across the pond,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“With Nvidia down more than 3%, investors were in a bad mood and they may not get out of the funk until we’ve seen US inflation figures on Wednesday...
9 April 2024
European markets nervous ahead of major data releases, miners up on iron ore price rally, BP upbeat and HSBC sells Argentina arm“European markets showed signs of nervousness ahead of the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision later this week,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Forecasts imply the ECB will hold rates at 4.5% yet last week’s stronger than expected US jobs data and the ongoing strength in the oil price have raised expectations that the...