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.
1 April 2026
Daily market update: Markets surge, oil drops, Berkeley, BabcockThe market appears increasingly optimistic that an end to the war in Iran is in the offing as big gains in the US and Asia were matched in Europe on Wednesday morning.
The FTSE 100 is now firmly ensconced above the 10,000 mark and nearly 5% above its lows last week while Brent crude oil prices have dropped below $100 per barrel. European gas prices...
31 March 2026
Daily market update: Trump, Unilever, McCormick, LloydsThe FTSE 100 consolidated Monday’s gains to stand firmly above the 10,000 mark as investors continue to weigh competing narratives over the Iran conflict.
Wall Street saw selling yesterday and Asian shares were weaker on Tuesday but European markets responded positively to suggestions President Trump is mulling an exit from the war.
Reportedly this...
26 March 2026
Why bond yields are so important to stock marketsThe 2-year gilt is warning of possible interest rate increases, while the 10-year gilt yield now exceeds the FTSE 100 dividend yield by more than one-and-a-half percentage points. Both are factors which help to explain the FTSE 100’s retreat from its February all-time high.
The 2-year gilt yield is seen as a summary of financial markets’ views as...
25 March 2026
Daily market update: Equities, UK inflation, ASOS, Crest NicholsonEuropean markets moved higher in early trading on Wednesday, despite conflicting messages about the Middle East crisis.
The FTSE 100 moved back through the 10,000 level, led by banks and miners. Oil prices remained volatile as talk of a potential peace plan was offset by ongoing strikes in the Middle East and reports of the US sending more troops...
23 March 2026
Daily market update: Shares, bonds and gold hit by Trump 48-hour deadlineThe risk dial has been turned up again on the Middle East conflict, causing widespread turbulence on financial markets.
Donald Trump imposing a tight deadline changed the narrative for markets. Up until yesterday, investors were unsettled by activities but hoped the US president would eventually back down.
Trump telling Iran it had 48 hours to open...
21 March 2026
Why are banking shares doing badly this year?As of the close on Thursday (19 March), the FTSE 350 Banks sector index was down by 6% in 2026.
That leaves the sector ranked just 24th out of the 38 industrial sectors that make up the FTSE 350 overall, which is a huge contrast to 2025 when Banks ranked third behind only Precious Metals & Mining and Aerospace & Defence – and indeed the last five...
20 March 2026
Daily market update: Markets rebound, Unilever, McCormick, WetherspoonsA small rebound in European stock markets brought a sense of relief to the end of a turbulent week.
Oil prices eased back and the FTSE 100 advanced 0.5% to 10,113 thanks to a solid showing from banks and miners – the two main culprits for Thursday’s market weakness.
Unilever sprung to life as talk about selling its food brands intensified. The...
18 March 2026
Daily market update: Markets, Prudential, BHP, Ramsdens, UnileverTalk of a deal between Iraq and Turkey to restart oil supplies has helped to calm financial markets.
This provided some relief to investors on the edge of their seats amid worries about disruptions to oil supplies. While the news helped to nudge down Brent prices by 0.5% to $102.89 a barrel, getting the commodity value significantly lower still...
17 March 2026
Does the volatility in gold signal the end of the bull market?Ask the experts. Russ Mould is on hand to answer your queries about the financial markets. If you'd like a question considered for a future edition, send it in now .
I’ve been following the move higher in the gold price and the recent slump – is gold likely to remain under pressure from here?
Ken
Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director, says:Wi...
16 March 2026
Daily market update: FTSE 100, CRH, Thames Water, Scottish MortgageThe FTSE 100 ticked higher at the start of the week as its material weighting towards energy continued to offer some ballast during the Iran conflict.
Oil prices were higher again and Asian markets were lower as fighting in the Middle East rumbles on. By the time markets opened in Europe, oil was a little off its highs for the session. Over the...
