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.
9 January 2026
Daily market update: mining mega-merger talks, TSMC, Sainsbury’sThe FTSE 100 solidified its position above 10,000 on Friday after a mixed week which has seen the index attain fresh record levels.
The mood music around UK stocks remains positive, even if Christmas updates from the retail sector have not inspired too much cheer – a downbeat update from the British Retail Consortium on footfall only adding to the...
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
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...
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
What to expect from FTSE 100 dividends in 2026Investors could potentially enjoy a 3.4% yield from the FTSE 100 in 2026, according to the market consensus forecast for dividend payments next year. That compares with a 3.2% yield for 2025.
This is one of the key findings from the latest edition of the AJ Bell Dividend Dashboard, which looks at trends among the UK’s biggest listed companies 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
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...
