28 February 2024
Reckitt crashes on sales miss, Vodafone in talks to sell Italian arm and Halfords breaks down after another profit warning“The FTSE 100 managed to avoid being dragged down too far by Reckitt’s disappointing fourth quarter numbers which also triggered a minor sell-off in Unilever,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“ Vodafone came to the rescue after its shares jumped on talks to potentially sell its Italian operations. The telecoms group has been stuck...
27 February 2024
FTSE 100 lifted by miners, more talk about Shein choosing to list in the UK and key Disney executive departs“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Tuesday, despite modest losses on Wall Street overnight, as markets found a moment of calm after a series of big macro-economic and corporate announcements,” says AJ Bell Head of Financial Analysis Danni Hewson.
“Mining companies did a lot of heavy lifting for the index, as leading commodities consumer China took...
26 February 2024
FTSE flat, Bunzl warns on margins, Warren Buffett bemoans lack of ‘meaningful’ opportunities and housebuilders under the spotlight in competition probe“The FTSE 100 kicked off the new week with a whimper as the index struggled to move,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Bargain hunters continued to bid up HSBC after last week’s big share price slump and AstraZeneca was also in demand, but these stocks weren’t enough to put the UK market into first gear. The FTSE was stuck in...
23 February 2024
Banks and miners lift FTSE 100 as global indices hit new highs, Standard Chartered up on outlook, dividend and buyback, and Frasers builds stake in Hornby“Indices around the world are hitting record highs as the latest test for investor sentiment came and went in the form of Nvidia’s results,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“These managed to outmatch the market’s already elevated expectations, suggesting the AI theme is very real. However, how healthy it is for a single stock to have...
22 February 2024
Derwent London full-year results: Wednesday 28 FebruaryShares in Derwent London are down by a quarter over the past year (and more than half from their pre-pandemic high of early 2020) as real estate stocks – or at least landlords that specialise in office space – remain deeply out of favour with investors.
The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) trades at a 43% discount to its last stated net asset...
22 February 2024
Crisis averted at Nvidia, record high for Nikkei and Stoxx 600, Rolls delivers on cash flow, Lloyds makes provision for car finance probe and Indivior could shift main listing to the US“It’s a record-breaking day for stocks and shares after two major indices hit new highs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Europe’s Stoxx 600 pushed ahead to new record levels,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Nikkei has been rallying since the start of 2023 when Japan was flagged by many investment experts as having multiple...
21 February 2024
Breaking the Mould - February / March 2024: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)In this episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and the six REITs due to report their full-year results for 2023 next week.
21 February 2024
Markets nervous ahead of Fed minutes and Nvidia results, HSBC profit hit by Chinese impairments“Markets remained skittish ahead of two major events on Wednesday that could have a significant influence over the direction of equities in the coming weeks. Tonight, we will get the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision meeting as well as quarterly results from Nvidia. Both have the power to move the dial for investor...
20 February 2024
Barclays’ new plan fails to save the FTSE, Domino’s boosted by broker upgrade and InterContinental Hotels posts first $1 billion profit“A strong showing from Barclays’ share price off the back of its three-year plan wasn’t enough to save the FTSE 100 from falling into the red. Miners dragged the index down on weaker copper prices,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Transport group Mobico – formerly known as National Express – dived 7.5% after delaying publication...
19 February 2024
FTSE 100 struggles for direction, Currys’ takeover battle begins and Nintendo hit by Switch delay reports“The FTSE 100 made a sluggish start to trading on Monday, lacking some direction amid the absence of big corporate or economic releases,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“That changes later in the week when the minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting are released and the AI stock Nvidia unveils its latest quarterly results. There...
16 February 2024
FTSE higher after better-than-expected UK retail sales, NatWest beats forecasts and appoints interim CEO Paul Thwaite on permanent basis“As we head towards the spring, the market seems to be getting more optimistic and, after a tricky few weeks, the FTSE 100 is close to regaining the levels it saw at the start of 2024,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The inflation shock from the US earlier in the week seems to have been shrugged off for now, even if it has pushed...
15 February 2024
UK stocks higher on recession-driven rate cut hopes, new twist to motor finance probe, big dividend boost from Centrica, RELX benefits from AI and Jet2 raises guidance“Confirmation that the UK is in recession has done nothing to knock UK stocks off course. An economy pushing through mud is not new news and if anything, it might encourage the Bank of England to think harder about cutting interest rates to avoid further economic deterioration. That’s certainly how the market views the situation as UK equities...
15 February 2024
Burden of proof lies with Big Five FTSE 100 banks as results season approaches“ NatWest ushers in the full-year results season for the FTSE 100’s Big Five banks on Friday and the other four follow in quick-fire fashion next week. As they prepare for the data deluge, investors will be looking to assess three things,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“First, whether earnings will drop as sharply across the UK’s Big...
15 February 2024
Breaking the Mould – February 2024: Big five banks resultsIn this week's episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, reviews bank performance as the FTSE 100’s Big Five (NatWest, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Standard Chartered) announce their full-year results.
14 February 2024
Bloomsbury Publishing flies on demand for fantasy genre books and Dunelm pays special dividend“The FTSE 100 was up in early trading as yesterday’s negative inflation shock in the US was followed by a surprise of a more positive variety as UK inflation came in flat and below expectations,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“This raises a prospect which would have felt unlikely a matter of weeks ago of the Bank of England cutting...
13 February 2024
Markets in holding pattern, Conservatives’ relaxed planning permission move fails to lift housebuilders and TUI beats expectations ahead of delisting vote“Markets remained in a holding pattern, awaiting the next wave of inflation, manufacturing and GDP data to see if it is possible to second guess when central banks might press the magic ‘cut’ button on interest rates,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Nasdaq tried and failed to hit a new record high last night on Wall Street...
12 February 2024
Rate cut comments boost European equities, Tritax Big Box REIT and UK Commercial Property REIT set to merge“Investors are hanging onto every word uttered by anyone affiliated with the major central banks, looking for signs that interest rate cuts are finally on the agenda,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Expectations that we will soon see this pivot moment have underpinned the pick-up in equity markets since late 2023 and...
9 February 2024
FTSE 100 grounded for second week in a row, Tesco sells banking, Bellway hopes for return to sales growth in 2025 and Ubisoft boosted by Assassin’s Creed Mirage“After a barrage of company announcements this week, it’s no wonder that markets have paused for breath on Friday. Investors have had so much to take in from a wealth of big names that they’re exhausted by the all the numbers,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“European indices were parked in neutral and seemed unlikely to budge...
8 February 2024
NatWest full-year results: Friday 16 February“With these fourth-quarter and full-year results, NatWest will doubtless be looking to put aside any lingering after-effects of last summer’s ruckus over Nigel Farage’s bank account and provide a strong narrative that can be used as a launchpad for a major share sale. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is looking to cut the government’s near...
8 February 2024
Breaking the Mould – February 2024: UK utilities sectorIn Breaking the Mould’s latest episode, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses the UK utilities sector with three listed utility companies due to publish trading statements for their fiscal third quarter and full year results respectively.
8 February 2024
Markets flat, AstraZeneca misses expectations, Unilever sees return of volume growth, ARM shares soar and British American Tobacco rebounds“Markets struggled to find direction as investors were busy trying to digest a wave of corporate updates, some good and some bad. The FTSE 100 was flat at 7,634, the Stoxx 50 nudged ahead by 0.2% while the Dax was static,” said Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“ Maersk slumped after warning that an oversupply of container vessels would...
7 February 2024
FTSE flat, Barratt to buy Redrow, Sainsbury’s outlines new growth plans and PZ Cussons slumps“The FTSE 100 was flat on a day stuffed with deals and strategic plans,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Barratt Developments saw its shares plunge on a proposal to buy housebuilding rival, Redrow, and a mixed set of results. Sainsbury’s was also in the doghouse with investors after outlining plans to spend big to support future...
6 February 2024
Chinese markets soar as state fund indicates share buying spree, BP beats expectations and Virgin Money delivers positive update“The big story on the markets was the sharp rally in Chinese stocks after a state-backed initiative to stir up interest in equities,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Hang Seng advanced 4% and the SSE jumped 3.2%, some of the biggest one-day gains we’ve seen on the Chinese market in a long time. The Hang Seng Tech index did...
5 February 2024
FTSE 100 higher despite blowout US jobs report, Lloyds hit by Iran reports, Vodafone sees German recovery stall and Revolution Beauty reaches settlement with former CEO“The markets continue to forge ahead despite a blowout jobs report from the US last Friday which seems to have finally put the nail in the coffin of the idea rates will be cut next month,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The FTSE 100 clawed its way to its best levels in nearly a month with fairly broad-based strength throughout the...
2 February 2024
FTSE 100 higher as tech names shine, Amazon and Meta shares surge on strong results and Apple faces China struggles“The FTSE 100 made a strong start on Friday morning, lifted by positive sentiment in the US overnight as Amazon and Meta chalked up stonking gains on their latest updates,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“While the scorecard for the Magnificent Seven in the current earnings season to date is mixed, Amazon and Meta certainly produced...