Russ Mould is AJ Bell's Investment Director. He has a Master's degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford and more than 30 years' experience of the capital markets.
He started out at Scottish Equitable in 1991 as a fund manager, where he had responsibility for the Nordic and Swiss equity markets. In 1993, Russ joined SG Warburg, now part of UBS investment bank, and worked there as an equity analyst covering the technology sectors for 12 years. He has also worked on IPOs and M&A deals. Russ was voted best analyst in the semiconductor sector in 2001 by Institutional Investor and reached the level of Managing Director in 2003 when he became head of UBS' global semiconductor research effort.
A member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (MSCI), Russ is responsible for providing written and video content for customers and clients. He also helps to build the company’s profile in print and broadcast media as part of AJ Bell's wider PR and brand team, working alongside the Investment Committee.
Russ joined Shares Magazine as technology correspondent in 2005 and took on the post of Editor in 2008. He was appointed as AJ Bell's Investment Director in 2013 following the company's acquisition of Shares' parent company, MSM Media. Russ regularly creates content across the AJ Bell website, including the Daily Market Update and Chart of the Week, and he hosts his own 'Breaking the Mould' weekly video series.
Outside of work, Russ is a qualified cricket coach, Italian speaker and avid fan of Doctor Who and NFL.
30 June 2025
How to tell if gold is getting expensive (or not)Gold bugs will be beside themselves after the precious metal’s 44% gain in dollar terms over the past year, but the more investors who buy in, the more of a consensus position it becomes, and the more of a consensus position it becomes, the fewer incremental buyers there are to drive up the price.
True believers will continue to warn of the dangers...
27 June 2025
Daily market update: JD Sports, Nike, US markets“Investors were in a good mood at the end of the trading week with gains seen across European indices and many parts of Asia,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Geopolitical tensions have eased back, for now, and risk appetite has improved.
“Shares in JD Sports burst to life off the back of Nike’s results. The footwear manufacturer...
26 June 2025
Daily market update: BP, Shell, H&M, Moonpig, Associated British Foods“UK takeover action has focused on the mid to lower end of the market so far this year and for a brief moment it looked like we might get the first mega cap action. Alas, Shell has thrown cold water over talk it was preparing a bid for BP, meaning the FTSE 100 hasn’t delivered the surge which many thought might happen this morning,” says Russ Mould...
26 June 2025
Investors continue to shun oil stocks as crude price crumblesFinancial markets can never be always right, but their views must always be respected and right now it looks as if they are spot on when it comes to the risks posed by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices gained little ground when tensions flared between Israel and Iran last week and they shed those gains and more once the ceasefire...
25 June 2025
Daily market update: Babcock, Marks & Spencer, Warehouse REIT, Halfords“Markets were risk-on following the Middle East truce,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Miners, oil producers and airlines were in demand on the UK stock market, helping to drive the FTSE 100 0.3% higher to 8,780. There was a clear rotation as investors moved away from more defensive-style stocks such as utilities, tobacco and...
24 June 2025
Daily market update: oil, Mobico, Saga, Bunzl, Google“Investors are reacting with relief to apparent news of a US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Oil prices slumped on the news as fears the strategically important shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz might be obstructed, affecting global supplies of crude, failed to materialise.
“Tehra...
23 June 2025
Daily market update: stock market losses contained, Tesla, Assura, Spectris“The markets are not yet reacting with any degree of panic to the US airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities as they await to see how Tehran responds,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“The promised two-week hiatus as the US weighed its decision didn’t materialise as the Trump administration acted on Saturday. After briefly spiking above...
19 June 2025
Daily market update: Middle East, Whitbread, Hays, Revolution Beauty, Frasers“Central banks are in a ‘wait and see’ mood with regards to interest rates, despite broad concerns about a weaker economic outlook,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“The Fed kept US rates unchanged at its meeting yesterday and the Bank of England is expected to do the same with UK rates later today.
“This won’t be a shock to...
18 June 2025
Daily market update: oil price, Ocado, AO, Speedy Hire“As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, oil prices remain in the ascendancy and stocks are enduring volatility,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Concern the US might join Israel’s military effort against Iran, after comments from President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, saw US shares fall overnight and...
17 June 2025
Daily market update: Ashtead, B&M, RC Fornax, Warpaint London“The UK stock market saw broad-based losses, with only six FTSE 100 stocks in positive territory. BP and Shell were among the rare risers as oil prices held firm after a recent rally,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Middle East tensions are showing no signs of easing back, putting investors on high alert.
“Germany’s Rheinmetall...
