1 February 2024
Breaking the Mould – February 2024: UK housebuilding sectorIn this week's episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses the UK housebuilding sector with three listed housebuilding companies due to announce first-half results and trading updates.
1 February 2024
Equity markets stumble as Fed pours cold water on prospect of near-term rate cuts, Adidas trips up on weak outlook and Shell beats expectations and unveils buyback“All it took was a single sentence from Fed chair Jay Powell to cause equities to stumble. In a desire for inflation to be sustainably lower before a rate cut can be considered, he said: ‘I don’t think it’s likely that we’ll reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting.’ That was the last thing investors wanted to hear,” says Russ...
31 January 2024
FTSE 100 dips ahead of Fed meeting, Advanced Micro Devices unveils iffy outlook, Universal Music in TikTok spate, Microsoft warns cloud growth to slow, Alphabet disappoints with advertising and Novo Nordisk beats expectations“The FTSE 100 dipped on Wednesday after mixed trading in the US overnight, with investors absorbing numbers from Wall Street’s dominant tech sector,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Investors may be sitting on their hands as they await the latest decision from the Federal Reserve – a first interest rate cut hasn’t been pegged any...
31 January 2024
Small cap stocks fail to join in US stock market party“Small cap stocks are often seen as a good barometer for economic activity in their region, as they are less well developed and thus likely to be more reliant on their domestic market. It may therefore be of some concern that small cap indices in the US, Europe and UK are all failing to make marked headway, even as equity markets look forward to...
30 January 2024
Analysts more bullish than ever on UK stocks in 2024As we enter 2024, 59% of all analysts’ recommendations are buys and just 8% are sells for constituents of the FTSE 100, the highest and lowest scores over the past ten years, respectively. For the FTSE 350 index 62% of all recommendations are positive ratings and just 7% negative ones, again the highest and lowest percentages since 2015.
Momentum...
30 January 2024
Markets up ahead of Microsoft and Alphabet results, Diageo’s problems persist, Pets at Home warns on profit and WPP boosts medium-term targets“The next two days will test investor sentiment thanks to the publication of financial results from two of the biggest names on the global stock market and the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“ Microsoft and Alphabet release numbers after the US market close tonight and investors...
29 January 2024
Oil stocks lift FTSE 100, fears over impact of Evergrande liquidation on China’s financial system, Chill Brands and Supreme hit by disposable vaping ban and Ryanair lowers profit outlook“The FTSE 100 started the week flat as a strong showing from heavyweight oil stocks helped make up for weakness elsewhere,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Oil prices advanced thanks to a renewed escalation in Middle East tensions, with a further attack on shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels and three US soldiers killed in a...
26 January 2024
Markets end the week on a high, luxury goods stocks back in fashion, Intel sinks on weak outlook, WH Smith keeps head above water and Wickes pegs profit at top end of expectations“US markets continue to enjoy a strong run thanks to generally positive updates from big tech firms,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“While there have been a few exceptions including Intel, and Tesla’s warning certainly created a headwind, investors still seem optimistic overall.
“That positivity fed through to a decent showing...
25 January 2024
Breaking the Mould – Diageo first-half resultsIn this week's episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses what to look out for in Diageo’s first-half results , as well as the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England policy pronouncements.
24 January 2024
Investors look to chip stocks for signs of soft landing and better times ahead“ IQE’s trading update flagged improved momentum the second half of 2023, TSMC’s fourth-quarter report hinted that the bottom of the semiconductor cycle was in, and Microchip’s huge January profit warning has barely dented the share price, with markets seeming to think silicon chip stocks are primed to sizzle once more,” s ays AJ Bell investment...
24 January 2024
FTSE 100 higher as US stocks hit yet another record, Netflix sees big subscriber growth, Wetherspoons and EasyJet doing well, regulator says Royal Mail could reduce delivery days“The FTSE 100 got off to a strong start on Wednesday as US stocks continued to test new records with earnings season getting underway in earnest,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Reported plans for a big intervention to help restore investor confidence in China helped lift shares with ties to emerging markets including insurer...
23 January 2024
FTSE 100 higher as US indices hit new record highs again, Marston’s and Premier Foods toast strong trading, Primark saved by Christmas boost and Boohoo CFO exits“The FTSE 100 ticked higher on Tuesday, building on Monday’s gains as US stocks mark new record highs for the second session in a row,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“For now, markets have shrugged off their New Year malaise, but investors’ newfound optimism could be tested in the near term with central bank meetings rapidly...
22 January 2024
Wall Street joy extends to UK on Monday, more positive outlook for UK economy, Storm Isha doesn’t hold back insurance or retail shares and Sorrell’s S4 stops the rot as it sticks with guidance“A strong session last Friday for Wall Street saw the S&P 500 hit a new record high and that positivity extended to Europe at the start of the new trading week. The FTSE 100 nudged ahead 0.4% to 7,491, led by the financial sector,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“ Entain topped the FTSE 100 risers as investors piled back into the...
19 January 2024
Breaking the Mould – Associated British Foods trading updateIn Breaking the Mould’s latest episode, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discussed what to expect from Associated British Foods’ trading update, as well as the Bank of Japan and European Central Bank’s latest policy pronouncements.
18 January 2024
PageGroup puts out profit warning and cuts staff amid gloomy recruitment market“How times change. In August, PageGroup handed out a £50 million special dividend. In January, the recruitment specialist has served up a mild profit warning and further cut its headcount in response to a third straight quarter of year-on-year decreases in gross profit and a weak end to 2023,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Add this...
18 January 2024
FTSE 100 flat after big falls, Frasers ups stake in Boohoo, Sainsbury’s to exit banking, Flutter shrugs off sporting results hit, Currys lifts earnings guidance and Watches of Switzerland smashed by festive flop“The FTSE 100 stabilised after falling on yesterday’s nasty inflation surprise and weak Chinese growth figures,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“When you add in a tight jobs market, strong US retail sales and hawkish central bank commentary it’s no surprise markets are becoming less confident about the narrative of near-term rate...
18 January 2024
AJ Bell funds rebalancingThe AJ Bell funds are managed by the team at AJ Bell Investments, with one aim: helping you invest. We look after the funds, and make the daily decisions to keep your money working hard for you.
That means, from time to time, we’ll make updates to the funds in response to differing market conditions. In this article, we’ll take you through the...
17 January 2024
FTSE hit by inflation shock and China disappointment, GSK sells more of Haleon, BP makes interim CEO permanent and 888 says earnings to be at lower end of expectations“Investors have had to rip up their game plan after UK inflation went in the wrong direction to support the narrative for interest rate cuts,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Coming at 4% versus a market forecast of 3.8%, it’s still double the long-term target for the Bank of England and could act as the deciding factor for the...
16 January 2024
FTSE hits one-month low, Rolls-Royce down on ‘sell’ note, Ocado Retail enjoys record Christmas, Vodafone inks partnership with Microsoft and THG on comeback trail“The FTSE 100 slipped to a one-month low, dragged down by healthcare and financial stocks. Part of the problem is central banks constantly teasing the prospect of rate cuts but then refusing to commit, which is causing unease among investors. There are plenty of signs that inflation is coming down and this is fuelling the rate cut expectations on...
15 January 2024
Markets higher as US factory gate prices ease, PageGroup and Crest Nicholson warn, reports suggest Shein IPO plan faces hurdle“The FTSE 100 made a solid enough start to the week on Monday but it may suffer from a lack of direction later given US markets are closed for Martin Luther King Day,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“An escalation of tensions in the Red Sea amid US and UK strikes on Houthi rebels raises the prospect of renewed inflationary pressures...
12 January 2024
Oil price rally lifts FTSE 100, IPO machine whirs back into action and Burberry warns again“Wall Street managed to avoid a big sell-off despite hotter than expected US inflation figures reducing the chances of interest rates being cut as soon as March,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“European shares raced ahead at the end of the week as investors focused on comments from European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine...
11 January 2024
Dividend forecasts sag alongside profit estimates for 2023 and 2024The FTSE 100 continues to paddle sideways. The UK’s leading index is no higher than twelve months ago or indeed six years ago, a picture that pales next to the growth and momentum driven US indices, such as the S&P 500 or the NASDAQ. Yet the FTSE 100 could still appeal to patient accumulators of income, given a forecast dividend yield of 3.9% for...
11 January 2024
Marks & Spencer sees slowdown in sales growth, Tesco delivers profit upgrade and Taylor Wimpey sticks with guidance“Despite a barrage of corporate updates, the main thing on today’s agenda for markets is the latest inflation reading from the US,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“The consensus forecast is for the monthly rate of consumer price inflation to edge up from 0.1% in November to 0.2% in December and for the year-on-year figure to move...
10 January 2024
How America’s federal debt (and spending) could be influencing Federal Reserve policy“A deal in Congress to approve a $1.7 trillion budget for US federal spending in the fiscal year to September 2024 should avoid the risk of a government shutdown, but legislative approval is still needed by early next month and the issue of how America’s debt and interest bills keep galloping higher is not going away,” says AJ Bell investment...
9 January 2024
Breaking the Mould - Burberry third-quarter and Christmas trading updateIn this week's episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses what to look out for in Burberry’s third-quarter and Christmas trading update, as well as the latest UK jobs data from the Office for National Statistics.
