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.
12 May 2026
Big moves on the bond market - why they matterGilt yields have remained at elevated levels after Labour setbacks in local elections. The results fuelling speculation that Keir Starmer might struggle to cling on as prime minister.
The 30-year gilt yield is often a better measure of political sentiment than the usual 10-year benchmark rate, as the government typically issues long-term debt. The...
12 May 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100 slumps, gilt yields rise, Greggs, WickesDrama and turmoil on both sides of the Atlantic helped put the FTSE 100 firmly on the back foot on Tuesday.
Comments from Donald Trump that the Iran-US ceasefire was ‘on life support’ saw investors wobble in Asia and Europe – with the sell-off in the UK market exacerbated by domestic political events.
The 30-year gilt yield, which is sensitive to...
8 May 2026
The top performing UK funds and trustsInvesting in the UK stock market isn’t just about broadening the pool of people to help fund UK company growth plans, it’s also about building personal wealth. The UK has been a more fruitful place to make money than its unloved reputation would suggest.
Over the past 10 years, an investment in the broader UK market would have generated nearly...
7 May 2026
Daily market update: Shell, Centrica, Herald, BAE SystemsEuropean markets mostly continued yesterday’s strong session, which saw equities rally globally on hopes of a resolution to the Middle East conflict.
The exception was the FTSE 100 which fell 0.6% as energy stocks weighed on the index amid oil falling back below $100 a barrel.
Shell reported bumper profits, but the market had fully expected that...
4 May 2026
Three types of funds for beginner investorsInvesting doesn’t have to be complicated when you use funds, and you’re never too old to get started. There are some easy steps for anyone whose interest has been piqued by the government’s push to get more people investing their money rather than letting it sit in cash.
A lot of people feel overwhelmed when looking for investments because the...
29 April 2026
Daily market update: FTSE retreats, Lloyds, AstraZeneca and GSK bullish, AdidasDespite a decent showing from Asian markets, Europe was on the back foot as yesterday’s dip in oil prices reversed, reminding investors that inflation risks are still elevated.
UAE’s exit from oil producers’ cartel Opec might eventually lead to greater oil supplies from the region which could bring down oil prices, but it won’t happen overnight.
T...
28 April 2026
Investing in the British companies you use every dayWe’re often told to invest in what we know – and there’s a surprisingly large number of companies on the UK stock market embedded into everyday life.
From the moment we wake up, get dressed and have breakfast, go to work and come home again, there are oodles of touch points with companies whose shares can be bought at the click of a button. There’s...
28 April 2026
Daily market update: FTSE up, oil above $110, BP, Card Factory, Travis PerkinsA matter of weeks ago oil moving through $110 per barrel would be enough to give markets the willies but they seem to be in wait-and-see mode right now .
Energy prices are reacting to stalled talks between the US and Iran and a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz which has now extended to the best part of two months – with just a few fleeting moments...
26 April 2026
Big dividends: The highest yielding stocks on UK stock marketOne of the UK stock market’s key attractions is the rich bounty of dividends on offer. There are companies with a history of returning copious amounts of money to shareholders and that makes the UK a fertile hunting ground for income investors.
At a headline level, the FTSE 100 yields 3.3% based on forecast payments. While 3.3% is less than you’d...
23 April 2026
Why the UK beats the US on value and dividendsThere has been a pervasive misconception about UK companies when compared to those in the US that they don't have as much to offer in terms of exciting opportunities and, for market participants, returns.
Comparing the valuation and dividend trends – two of the most crucial factors for investing – on UK and US stocks the former trumps the US.
The...
