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.
5 January 2024
Bad first week for markets in 2024, drinks companies hit by new China probe and FTSE 100 gold miner Endeavour sacks CEO“Markets continue to be choppy as investors recalibrate expectations for interest rate cuts this year. After euphoria last November and December amid hopes the Fed would cut rates as soon as March 2024, the central bank has since tried to dampen expectations and the latest meeting minutes further muddied the water,” says Russ Mould, investment...
4 January 2024
Breaking the Mould – Marks & Spencer third-quarter trading updateIn the first episode of the year, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses what to look out for in Marks & Spencer’s third-quarter trading update, as well as the latest US macroeconomic news.
4 January 2024
Next raises profit forecasts for the fifth time“A fifth profit forecast upgrade for fiscal 2024 and guidance for a further increase to another record level in 2025 explains why Next’s shares are setting new record highs,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Better-than-expected cash flow also means the firm can reduce debt and continue to return cash to shareholders via dividends and...
4 January 2024
FTSE 100 boardrooms show more stability than football club dressing rooms in 2023FTSE 100 chief executives and football club managers are both in the results business, one group in terms of profits and share prices and the other in terms of points and league positions, but in 2023 it looks like shareholders and boardrooms showed more patience than football club executives and supporters, even if headline stock market indices...
4 January 2024
FTSE 100 higher despite US and Asian losses, BP and Shell advance as oil prices extend recent gains, Fed minutes leave picture on rates unclear, JD Sports warns and Next beats expectations“The FTSE 100 started Thursday on the front foot despite selling in Asia and the US overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“There were decent gains for BP and Shell as oil prices extended their recent upwards movement on concerns over Middle Eastern supply. The region remains a tinder box due to the Israel-Gaza war, and...
3 January 2024
FTSE 100 flat as it marks 40th birthday, US tech stocks slip overnight, Entain higher as activist joins board and supermarkets lifted by busiest Christmas since 2019“The FTSE 100 marked its 40th birthday with a celebration more akin to a quiet pint in an empty pub than anything more befitting of a major landmark,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The index was flat after mixed trading in the US overnight, where tech stocks came under pressure. The so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’ accounted for a big...
2 January 2024
Mixed start for equities in 2024, retail shares popular with investors, Red Sea tensions push up oil price and PureTech extends rally“Markets got off to a cautious start on the first trading day of 2024, perhaps setting the tone for what could be a volatile year jam packed with political jostling ahead of crunch elections,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“While the main European indices pushed ahead, Asian markets were in the red despite better-than-expected...
21 December 2023
FTSE 100 lower after US and Asia sell-off, UK borrowing higher than expected, Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount in merger talks“The FTSE 100 started its penultimate trading day before Christmas with a modest slump after selling in Asia and the US overnight,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Disappointing earnings from delivery and logistics outfit FedEx – often seen as an economic bellwether – and a general shift in market focus from when rates will be cut to...
20 December 2023
Breaking the Mould – Trends to watch in 2024Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, looks ahead to 2024, discussing the trends that might have an influence on the markets.
20 December 2023
UK stock market rallies on lower-than-expected inflation figures, Chinese stocks at new three-year low, FedEx warns again and Petrofac surges on contract news“Considerably lower than expected inflation figures have put a rocket under the UK stock market as investors take the view the Bank of England will have no choice but to cut rates soon,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The FTSE 100 jumped 1.3% to 7,733 while the FTSE 250 advanced 1.1%. The biggest risers included housebuilders...
19 December 2023
Five key lessons to take from financial markets in 2023“If 2021 was the year that inflation made an unwelcome reappearance and 2022 was when fears of recession stalked financial markets, then 2023 saw share prices (in developed markets, at least) start to discount a much rosier scenario – in the form of a peak in both inflation and interest rates, alongside a soft landing – as the much-discussed...
19 December 2023
FTSE 100 ticks higher after gains in the US and Asia, attacks disrupt shipments through the Red Sea, De La Rue and Superdry hit by warnings“The FTSE 100 ticked higher after gains on Wall Street and in Asia as investors await readings of inflation and economic growth later this week,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“News the Bank of Japan is sticking with negative interest rates saw the yen fall and provided a boost to the export-heavy Nikkei 225.
“Still, it feels like...
18 December 2023
FTSE unchanged on rates mixed messaging, Games Workshop signs Amazon deal, and Hollywood Bowl strikes a confident note“The FTSE 100 made an indifferent start to the final week of trading before Christmas as, having fired the starting gun on expectations for interest rate cuts at its latest meeting, the Federal Reserve attempted to walk that back at the end of last week,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“This leaves markets somewhat in limbo –...
15 December 2023
FTSE 100 consolidates recent gains, Trainline shares surge as Great British Railways threat melts away, H&M stuck in the mud and Hollywood Bowl under the spotlight next week“The FTSE 100 started the day modestly higher, consolidating its big gains from yesterday but not showing signs of extending its rally,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“This may reflect the mixed messages coming from central banks this week. The market might be left feeling as if it has stepped through the looking glass. The Federal...
14 December 2023
European economic indicators: Monday 18 and Friday 22 December“A year ago, economists were giving up on the EU’s economic outlook, thanks in part to the reliance of its economic powerhouse, Germany, on the internal combustion engine, exports to China and cheap oil and gas from Russia. Inflexible labour markets, weak banks and the risk of sticky inflation (particularly if oil and gas prices head higher during...
14 December 2023
Breaking the Mould – Trends from 2023Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses the five key trends which shaped financial markets in 2023 throughout the year.
14 December 2023
The pivot is finally here: markets soar on Fed comments, Dow hits new record high and Currys sees progress in turnaround story“Equity markets have enjoyed a hearty boost after Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell indicated further rate rises were not needed. While the market was already pricing in rate cuts from 2024, investors welcomed Powell’s comments with open arms. Having it spelt out was music to their ears,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The market...
13 December 2023
FTSE 100 higher ahead of Fed meeting, rumours Boots could return to London market, Boohoo tightens grip on Revolution Beauty“The FTSE 100 ticked higher as investors await the latest decision from the Federal Reserve on interest rates,” says Danni Hewson, Head of Financial Analysis at AJ Bell.
“So far, the market is seeing nothing to disabuse it of the notion that rate cuts are on the way in 2024 as US inflation came in as expected yesterday and UK GDP figures show the...
12 December 2023
UK stocks up on slowdown in wage growth, all eyes on US inflation data and Hasbro suffers pre-Christmas blues“It’s a big day for clues as to how central banks might act at their next interest rate decision,” says Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.
“An easing in wage growth and a decline in job vacancies in the UK is something that will be closely watched by the Bank of England, particularly as the 7.2% growth in average earnings in the...
11 December 2023
China deflation hits miners as FTSE opens lower, Begbies Traynor sees insolvencies increasing, Rightmove reports house price fall and tiny UK stock surges after hiring ex-Tesla trio“The FTSE 100 started the week on the back foot, dragged lower by the mining sector as figures from China over the weekend showed the economy swung deeper into deflation,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“An indicator of depressed domestic demand and a very different story to the inflationary pressures faced in the rest of the world...
8 December 2023
FTSE 100 higher as US gains on jobless claims, Berkeley profits up, Flutter stays in FTSE despite US move and Anglo American slashes production guidance“The FTSE 100 was modestly higher in early trading on Friday following gains in the US overnight as the market awaits a key jobs report from across the Atlantic,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“An increase in jobless claims suggests the US labour market, a critical factor in Federal Reserve decision making, is cooling and investors...
7 December 2023
Gold back in the spotlight thanks to debt, dollars and interest rates“It may surprise many investors to see gold surge as inflation apparently cools, but some believe the precious metal is getting a lift from the prospect of falling US interest rates in 2024, especially since markets are now pricing in four or even five 0.25% reductions from the US Federal Reserve next year,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ...
7 December 2023
Breaking the Mould - Bunzl fourth-quarter trading updateIn this week's episode of Breaking the Mould, Russ Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, discusses what to look out for in Bunzl’s fourth-quarter trading update, as well as the latest US Federal Reserve and Bank of England monetary policy announcements.
7 December 2023
FTSE 100 takes step back as oil falls, Bloomsbury shines, cracks appear in Frasers’ luxury division amid wider sector issues, GameStop still losing money and Vertu warns on used car market“The FTSE 100 took a step back on Thursday amid weak trading in the US and China as some of the excitement about a pivot from central banks dampens down,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“US jobs numbers tomorrow and central bank meetings next week could inform the market if it has got carried away with the level of rate cuts which...