9 January 2026
Why the UK stock market is gaining new fansThe UK stock market hit a new high at the start of 2026, with the FTSE 100 index breaking through the 10,000 level for the first time and extending last year’s solid run. The 25.8% total return from the FTSE 100 in 2025 was the fifth best year for the UK index since inception in 1984.
US strikes on Venezuela on 3 January 2026 failed to derail the...
9 January 2026
TSMC scales new heights, Constellation Brands: US markets this weekUS markets made a positive start to 2026 with gains seen across the board and new all-time highs for the S&P 500 index and the small cap Russell 2000 index, which gained almost 4%.
Investors were bombarded with a raft of macroeconomic data which showed US services activity expanding in December at the fastest pace in more than a year, notching up...
8 January 2026
UK takeovers busy but large deals could slow in 2026It was another blockbuster year for UK-listed takeovers, with 64 companies receiving a bid during 2025, according to analysis by AJ Bell. Of these, 51 deals have either completed or are still live, and 13 bid situations fell by the wayside.
Bid activity was mostly concentrated in the mid and small cap universe, with only one FTSE 100 stock – Anglo...
8 January 2026
Daily market update: Trump's defence spending proposal, Tesco, Shell, GreggsWatch the bond market closely as Trump’s proposal to radically increase defence spending could put even more pressure on the already sky-high US national debt.
While Trump insists any extra spending would be paid for by tariffs, bond markets might not be as convinced. Equity markets are already looking a bit doubtful, with futures prices implying a...
7 January 2026
Shareholders urged to decide on the future of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment TrustInvestors have an important say in the future of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust being targeted by hedge fund Saba Capital.
Saba’s proposals to make changes at the trust and with the trust’s board have been put forward as ordinary resolutions for investors to vote on. These only require a simple majority, or more than 50% of votes cast, to...
7 January 2026
Job security for FTSE 100 bosses much higher than for their football counterpartsShareholders are not necessarily famous for their patience, but they seem to possess more of it than football boardrooms or supporters.
Recent events at Manchester United suggest as much, and there were, once more, fewer changes in FTSE 100 CEOs than English league football managers in 2025.
Fourteen FTSE 100 firms saw a change in chief executive...
7 January 2026
Daily market update: oil and precious metals, Greenland events, Topps TilesThe FTSE 100 retreated from yesterday’s record high amid murmurings about the fate of Greenland and lower oil and precious metals prices.
As well as pledging to turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the US following the weekend strikes on the country, prompting concern about crude oversupply and pressuring prices...
7 January 2026
UK IPOs disappointed in 2025 but there were pockets of greatnessIt was a patchy year for UK IPOs in 2025 both in terms of performance and volume, going against the grain for a superb year for UK stocks more generally.
While a handful of stocks delivered strong returns, investors who bought every one of the 20 UK IPOs in 2025 would have lost money on average. In contrast, those who bought a FTSE 100 tracker fund...
6 January 2026
Why have oil prices not surged after Venezuela strikes?Often oil prices go up when there is conflict in the world, particularly if there is a risk of some disruption to global supply.
So, you might have expected the Trump administration’s move to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to have prompted a spike in crude.
However, prices were actually down modestly as traders had their first opportunity...
6 January 2026
Daily market update: Next, JD Sports, supermarkets, InPostThe FTSE 100 extended its New Year rally, moving 0.5% higher to 10,052 as banks and oil companies were in demand.
Next impressed with its Christmas trading update. That was bad news for Marks & Spencer as it lost clothing business to Next last year during months of cyberattack disruption. Investors appear to have concluded that Next’s success...
5 January 2026
Daily market update: gold and defence stocks, oil, Aldi, Auction TechnologyThe FTSE 100 hovered just under the 10,000 level as investors loaded up on shares in gold miners and defence contractors off the back of US strikes on Venezuela.
Heightened geopolitical tensions like the ones we’ve seen over the weekend would normally spook investors, but global markets have avoided a sell-off. Investors appear to be taking the...
30 December 2025
Three big market themes to watch in 2026As we approach the end of what has been broadly a positive year for investors, it’s time to look ahead to what might move markets in the year ahead. This article examines three key themes which could drive markets in 2026.
1. Will AI spread its wings?In the last knockings of 2025, there has been mounting concern about a potential AI bubble, with...
28 December 2025
The big stocks that doubled investors’ money in 2025It’s been a great year for markets around the world, and even better year for anyone who picked one of the stocks that doubled investors’ money in 2025 when factoring in share price gains and dividends.
Here are some of the big names to have hit the jackpot for investors from the UK and the US stock market.
FTSE 100Starting in the UK, four...
25 December 2025
Most popular stocks of 2025 among AJ Bell DIY investorsIncome, defence and AI were the dominant themes among the most popular stocks with AJ Bell DIY investors in 2025.
Hot investment themes act like a magnet to certain people as they become drawn to a topic everyone’s talking about; or where they can see a clear opportunity for a specific group of companies to enjoy strong earnings growth. AI and...
24 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100 dips, precious metals, BPNot much seemed to be stirring on Christmas Eve on the UK stock market as the FTSE 100 drifted a little lower.
Weakness in the dollar, expectations for further US rate cuts, concerns about government deficits and debt in the developed world and geopolitical tensions have all been combining to put precious metals on a pedestal.
However, having hit...
24 December 2025
Five themes for investors to watch in 2026Markets’ core scenario remains one of cooling inflation, steady economic growth and falling interest rates in 2026.
Faith in central banks’ ability, and willingness, to ride to the rescue in the event of any unforeseen events, such as a recession or bout of wider market volatility, remains undimmed.
Some even expect the US Federal Reserve to deploy...
23 December 2025
Russ Mould: Five key market trends to watch for in 2026AJ Bell's Investment Director, Russ Mould, runs us through the five key trends that could influence 2026 and their overall impact on investors.
23 December 2025
Find out what’s expected for US interest rates next yearThe path of US interest rates has big implications for investors across the globe given the implications this has for the world’s largest economy and financial market.
After a quarter percentage point cut was delivered on 10 December, attention turned to what is in store for 2026, a year which will see current Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell...
23 December 2025
Daily market update: GDP and inflation data, Novo Nordisk, Pets at HomeThe FTSE 100 made a steady if unspectacular start on the last full trading day before Christmas.
This followed a decent showing for US and Asian markets overnight even if the record highs for gold and silver hint at some continuing nervousness among investors. Updated estimates of GDP and core PCE inflation data stateside, both delayed by the US...
22 December 2025
Russ Mould: Five themes from markets in 2025AJ Bell's Investment Director, Russ Mould, runs us through the five key themes that emerged from 2025 and their overall impact on investors.
22 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100, gold, GSK, RankThe FTSE 100 started Christmas week on the back foot, with healthcare and utility stocks acting as a drag on the index.
Precious metals miners led the way, as they have for much of 2025, with gold hitting a new all-time high on expectations of further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and robust demand for its safe haven qualities.
An end...
22 December 2025
More than half of AJ Bell customers expected to back British shares in 2026More than half of AJ Bell customers say they are considering investing in UK shares in 2026. These results, based on an online survey of 1,726 customers carried out between 8 and 12 December 2025, demonstrate that investors have a significant natural home bias heading into next year. Global and US shares are also popular alongside bonds, money...
19 December 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100 ticks higher in early trading, UK government borrowing, NikeThe FTSE 100 ticked higher in early trading after lower-than-expected inflation in the US helped lift shares on Wall Street and across Asia overnight.
The knife-edge nature of yesterday’s rate decision by the Bank of England is keeping UK stocks in check and stalled the FTSE 100’s push towards the 10,000 mark. Investors have responded to the...
19 December 2025
Inflation boost, Micron shines, Nike slumps: US markets this weekA lower-than-expected reading of US inflation helped Wall Street claw back some ground after what has been another difficult week for stocks across the Atlantic.
The latest CPI number showed prices rose 2.7% over the 12 months to November. That pace was down from 3% in September and materially lower than the 3.1% forecast by analysts. In the...
19 December 2025
What the pre-Christmas interest rate cut means for your moneyIn its final decision for 2025 the Bank of England has delivered a pre-Christmas interest rate cut from 4% to 3.75%. The last time rates were below 4% was all the way back in January 2023.
At that time, inflation was in double digits whereas today, despite still being above the Bank’s 2% target, inflation is at 3.2%. This reading, for November 2025...
