Dan Coatsworth is AJ Bell's Head of Markets. Dan has been with the company since December 2012 and has more than 18 years' experience in the industry, following the markets and all things investing. He has a degree in Corporate Communications from Southampton Solent University.
Dan is involved in a lot of the content published by AJ Bell, which includes; providing market commentary, starring in our educational videos, writing for Shares Magazine and co-presenting our Money and Markets podcast, as well as hosting and presenting at events for customers – both in person and online.
Dan’s passion lies with educating customers all about investing and staying informed about market events. He previously worked for Teletext on the business and personal finance desks which taught him the importance of telling a story in as few words as possible. He has also appeared as a business commentator on Times Radio and LBC News and written investment-related articles for The Telegraph, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday and The Week.
A fun fact Dan learned about investing early on was to not get caught up on the hype around certain stocks. He found this out himself when the first share he bought was a company trying to recover copper from a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean… this sounded exciting but sadly didn’t make him any money! Outside of work, Dan enjoys swimming and going to live gigs.
27 July 2026
Confused about bonds? Here are answers to seven common questionsOn the face of it, bonds might seem like straightforward investment products. Once you dig deeper, it is easy to get confused with the language around how they work. Fear not, as we are here to help.
To help you better understand the world of bonds, we have compiled answers to seven frequent questions that investors ask.
Getting your head around...
23 July 2026
Are active funds keeping up with their tracker counterparts?It’s no wonder passive funds are grabbing investors’ attention. We’ve had yet another six-month period where a large chunk of professional stock pickers failed to outperform the tracker funds in the same sector.
Only 42% of active funds outperformed their tracker alternatives in the first half of 2026, matching the same reading from a year earlier...
23 July 2026
The sectors and stocks to watch as the new Burnham government gets to workA cabinet reshuffle following a change of leader can have major implications for bond and equity markets. Even though new prime minister Andy Burnham has pledged to stick to fiscal rules, there are signs that he will do things differently.
Markets are forward looking and they will be trying to second guess what path Burnham and new chancellor John...
21 July 2026
Daily market update: Mitie, Wickes, Compass, Fuller’s World Cup boostJohn Healey’s surprise appointment as chancellor hasn’t troubled the markets as he is seen as a safe pair of hands.
His extensive parliamentary career including roles in the Treasury are seen as putting him in good stead.
Bond markets reacted favourably, with gilt yields easing back after a jump yesterday afternoon when prime minister Andy Burnham...
20 July 2026
The costs of frequent tradingWhen you place regular trades, dealing and foreign exchange fees can add up. Learn about costs associated with frequent trading and the discounts available.
16 July 2026
Daily market update: Ocado, Foxtons, TSMC and UK takeoversThe FTSE 100 took its cue from weak trading in Asia and fell back amid a lower open for most other European markets.
Brent crude oil prices remain near one-month highs as tensions continue to mount in the Middle East.
Fragile sentiment is leading to a continued pullback in memory chip stocks after their gravity-defying run as investors fret about...
16 July 2026
Why companies cut dividends – and how to spot the next ones at riskIncome investors should never rule out a dividend cut. There are no guarantees with dividends and sometimes companies have no choice but to lower the amount paid to shareholders.
Dividend cuts are a live issue, and they are happening across the market. For example, we have already seen two FTSE 100 firms cut dividends this year, being drinks group...
15 July 2026
Daily market update: B&M, Paypal, Barratt Redrow, ASMLWeak Chinese economic data has spooked investors in the mining sector, causing a sell-off amid fears that the Asian superpower might scale back commodity purchases.
China’s GDP grew by 4.3% in the second quarter year-on-year, below the 4.5% to 5% target. The data reading took the market by surprise and might stir speculation that the Chinese...
14 July 2026
Daily market update: BP, Debenhams and Watches of SwitzerlandThe FTSE 100 was steady after a renewed surge in oil prices as Donald Trump reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports.
Investors feel like they’ve hit rewind on a movie they didn’t enjoy first time round. The ability to get shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is once again compromised thanks to the renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington.
For...
13 July 2026
Daily market update: EasyJet and PageGroupGlobal stocks may be falling off the back of renewed tensions between the US and Iran, but the FTSE 100 is an exception thanks to its chunky energy sector exposure.
Index heavyweights BP and Shell are beneficiaries of a concerted move higher in oil prices. This upwards shift in crude reflects concern about the fate of the fragile truce between...
