29 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 steady, oil prices lower, OcadoThe FTSE 100 was steady on Friday as global markets continue to try and unpick the latest movements in the Middle East.
Reports that Tehran and Washington have agreed a framework for a 60-day extension to the ceasefire, which would facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and enable fresh negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, have...
29 May 2026
Micron is the 13th company to hit the $1 trillion mark: what does it mean?Silicon chip maker Micron is the 13th company to currently carry a stock market valuation of $1 trillion or more, as earnings and price target upgrades from investment banks fuel momentum in a share price already carried higher by strong demand for its Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) products.
A strong trading outlookThe strong trading outlook...
28 May 2026
Would markets care if the Prime Minister changed tomorrow?Political uncertainty often dominates the news cycle - but what does it actually mean for investors? In this video, Russ Mould examines how the UK stock market and gilt yields have historically responded to mid-term Prime Minister changes.
Using data from the FTSE All-Share index and government bond markets, we explore whether leadership changes...
28 May 2026
Daily market update: Markets lower, SSE, PPHEThe optimism which has persisted for much of this week about the prospects for a deal between the US and Iran is being severely tested.
A fresh exchange of strikes between the two countries is testing the fragile ceasefire and forcing a reassessment of the chances of a near-term agreement which can reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dial down the...
27 May 2026
Discover the FTSE 100’s biggest earnings growersThe FTSE 100 has a reputation for being low growth and stodgy, dominated by large mining companies and financials. While partially true, there are also some faster growing ‘gems’ hiding in plain sight.
This article identifies a selection of companies which have consistently grown earnings at more than a double-digit rate for two decades. These...
27 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 dips, US-Iran peace hopes, Pets at HomeThe FTSE 100 started Wednesday on the back foot as a weak showing for energy and defensive stocks outweighed a continuing push higher for stocks in line to benefit from any peace deal between the US and Iran.
This meant the FTSE 100 meaningfully underperformed European and Asian markets which continued to rise on hopes for an end to the conflict in...
27 May 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: $75 billion SpaceX IPO plottedMajor US indices fell for a fourth consecutive week despite attempts by the Trump administration to de-escalate Middle East tensions.
There were continued signs of market rotation towards smaller companies and economically sensitive names as seen by the Russell 2000 and Dow Jones Industrials indices eking out gains.
Brent crude oil prices remained...
26 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 plays catch up, Kingfisher, MelroseThe FTSE 100 was playing catch up to European counterparts on Tuesday after progress on a potential agreement between the US and Iran.
However, continued doubts about the potential for a deal and an overnight pre-emptive US strike on Iran mean any euphoria is being kept in check. It’s telling that other European indices dipped slightly after the...
24 May 2026
Do you own Microsoft? Discover the opposing views of two managersIt is not unusual for fund managers to have different views on stocks, but when two high profile managers make opposing bets, it certainly grabs the attention.
Regulatory filings show TCI (The Children’s Fund) founder Chris Hohn sold virtually all its $8 billion stake in US software giant Microsoft and subsequently increased its stake in Alphabet...
23 May 2026
How the UK’s stock and bond markets welcome mid-term prime ministersWhile British political history suggests voters do not necessarily warm to political parties or governments which change leaders mid-parliament, financial markets tend to take a more detached view of proceedings.
This is primarily because their focus remains on pounds and pence, in the shape of corporate profits, cash flows and dividends, rather...
22 May 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: Nvidia fails to inspire despite upgradesUS markets crept higher despite relative softness in the Nasdaq Composite after a muted response to Nvidia’s earnings, with the smaller companies Russell 2000 index leading the way with a gain of nearly 2%.
Minutes from April’s FOMC meeting showed most policy makers were concerned by rising inflation from the war in Iran and believed a rate hike...
22 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 ticks higher, oil and bond yieldsThe market, having been burned before, is not getting too carried away on speculation about a US-Iran peace deal but the reports did lead to a higher open on Friday.
Brent crude oil prices remain choppy amid claims and counterclaims between Washington and Tehran. Any deal will not restore a pre-war situation overnight, as fully reopening the Strait...
21 May 2026
Daily market update: Markets pull back, Nvidia, EasyJet, BT Mitchells & ButlersMarkets pulled back across Europe as the waiting game to end the Iran war rumbled on.
A lacklustre response to Nvidia’s results goes to show investor euphoria around AI is fading, and other issues are weighing on their minds such as inflation and interest rates.
Utilities were the only bright spot on the FTSE 100, suggesting investors were in a...
21 May 2026
Why UK stocks are being targeted for takeoversThe UK stock market takeover boom is gathering pace in 2026, with companies including Tate & Lyle, Intertek and Legal & General linked to bids or takeover speculation.
In this video, AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould explains why takeover activity across the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 is accelerating — and what it could mean for UK investors.
The...
21 May 2026
The market crash plan investors wish they'd built earlierIn the past 10 years, global stocks have dropped from peaks by over 10% four times before reaching new highs again. But that doesn't prevent inevitable nerves as we wonder if this time, the drop will be different and leave us out of pocket on the hard-earned cash we’ve invested for a prolonged period.
Sometimes, this can make people pull their...
20 May 2026
What a SpaceX IPO could mean for the faltering S&P 500Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly preparing to go public, which would mark a new player in the S&P 500's lauded tech stocks. But could the listing, alongside potential IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI, signal the beginning of the end for the S&P's AI-fuelled market run? Russ Mould explores what these deals mean for the S&P 500, the Magnificent Seven...
20 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 dips, Marks & Spencer, Experian, Severn TrentThe FTSE 100 dipped on Wednesday as a lasting solution to the Iran crisis remained elusive.
The latest ultimatum to Tehran from President Trump has done little to quell investor nervousness and oil prices remain above the $110 per barrel mark.
US stocks fell on Tuesday as investors reacted to rising government bond yields which reflect growing...
20 May 2026
Which sectors outperformed when interest rates roseThe yield on 10-year UK government bonds recently pushed through the key 5% mark to reach their highest levels since the late 1990s while 30-year yields are approaching 6%.
While this kind of environment is not typically helpful for stocks, some parts of the market have historically done better than others when rates are rising.
The UK is not alone...
19 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE up, Currys, Dr Martens, C&CTrump’s hot/cold demeanour around the Iran war continues to cause volatility on the markets.
With the US president having yesterday called off a new military attack on Iran, investors are showing relief that tensions haven’t escalated. That’s helped oil prices to ease back slightly and equity markets to move higher in Europe and Asia.
However...
18 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100, government bond yields and oil prices elevated, RyanairAfter finishing the previous week with heavy losses, the FTSE 100 made an uncertain start on Monday as the list of market worries continues to build.
Hopes that a resolution between the US and Iran might be in sight continue to ebb away and that’s reflected in oil prices ticking higher. Meanwhile movements in government bonds imply a lasting and...
18 May 2026
The AI stocks experts say are undervaluedWhile AI companies have been a winning investment strategy in recent years, the narrative for many people has now shifted towards apprehension.
Investors worry the companies won’t to live up to their lofty valuations as stocks like Nvidia have increased in price by 1,441% in the past five years. That’s more than the S&P 500 has increased in the...
15 May 2026
Martin Gamble on US markets: Nvidia closes on $6 trillion valuationUS markets marched to new highs this week led by the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite. It was buoyed by the blockbuster IPO of semiconductor firm Cerebras, whose shares doubled on their debut, giving the company a market value of around $100 billion.
The interest rate sensitive small company Russell 2000 index lagged as bond yields moved higher. This...
15 May 2026
The S&P 500 at new all-time highs and eyes are on NVIDIANVIDIA earnings are once again in focus as investors look for confirmation that the AI-driven rally in US stocks can continue.
In this video, Russ Mould examines the latest results from the Magnificent Seven — including NVIDIA, Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla — and explains why investors remain enthusiastic despite mounting...
15 May 2026
Daily market update: gilts, Andy Burnham, Centrica, BP, ShellThe FTSE 100 fell as emerging evidence of inflationary pressures and domestic political uncertainty combined to put investors on edge.
The decision of a Labour MP to stand down and pave the way for Andy Burnham to return to parliament – likely as a precursor to a leadership challenge – has seen gilt yields move yet higher.
While there’s no...
15 May 2026
The neat trick which could help turn £1,000 into £20,000This article shows how the power of reinvesting dividends can really growth wealth over the long run. While this is purely an illustrative example and nothing in investing is guaranteed it helps show the difference this investment approach can make.
While we use the example of a single company for simplicity, it is crucial that investors hold a...
