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.
23 June 2016
How NIRP is driving investors to take the corporate shillingOne of the biggest conundrums facing investors today comes in the form of the Government bond market. In theory a source of steady coupons in return for taking limited risk, this arena is now home to negative yields – which guarantee the holder a loss over the lifetime of the bond if it is held from issue to redemption. And yet the world has never...
17 June 2016
How to invest ethicallyIn the end, most investors put capital at risk because they want a return that satisfies their personal needs and requirements. Some may do so because they want to make a difference and do good. Many more will be keen that their investments do no harm thus avoid making a difference in a negative way.
This raises three key questions:
How can...
9 June 2016
Biotechnology looks to bounce backStock markets are like elephants. They have long memories. No sooner had Sir Philip Green found himself in a spot of bother over BHS, and having to defend his stewardship of the failed high street chain, then a few older heads mentioned Amber Day, his one and only stint as the boss of a public firm, where he departed amid much acrimony in 1992...
3 June 2016
How investors can roll out the barrel
Production disruption in Canada, Venezuela, Nigeria, Libya and Iraq, coupled with relatively steady demand, is helping drag oil back toward the $50-a-barrel.
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate oil are both back at nearly $50 a barrel
Source: Thomson Reuters Datastream
Investment cuts, falling drilling activity and a long-awaited decline...
26 May 2016
Federal Reserve spins the rate rise wheel once moreNo sooner have the markets decided there will be no interest rate hike from the US Federal Reserve this year (or the Bank of England, for that matter) after a very dovish commentary from chairwoman Janet Yellen than a gaggle of officials from the US central bank pop up and say that the next increase in American headline borrowing costs could come...
26 May 2016
What will Brexit mean for your portfolio?Almost three quarters (72%) of AJ Bell Youinvest customers who completed our recent online ‘Brexit’ survey are concerned about the impact the result of the EU referendum might have on their investments.
A greater proportion of investors (39%) are more concerned about the impact a Brexit might have on their portfolio than those who are concerned...
20 May 2016
How Buffett and Apple get to the core of technology investingA difficult year for the technology giant Apple is taking an interesting turn with the news that legendary “value” investor Warren Buffett has bought a stake worth just over $920 million, at the prevailing price of $93.88.
Apple’s shares have received a welcome boost after the Buffett swoopSource: Thomson Reuters DatastreamNOTE: Past performance...
12 May 2016
FTSE 100 is still battling the (long-term, low-growth) bearThe FTSE 100’s brief flirtation with a bear market back in February may seem like a long time ago, as the index stands some 15% above its later winter low, but the UK’s leading benchmark is nevertheless making pretty heavy weather of getting anywhere near the intra-day all-time high of 7,123 set in April 2015.
Now therefore seems a good time to...
9 May 2016
High-yield is rallying but keep an eye on the credit cycle
In the past month several Governments have dangled a carrot or two in front of income-hunters, in the knowledge they have debts to fund while investors are still on the look-out for reliable coupons:
Belgium issued €100 million of 100-year bonds with a coupon of 2.3% Ireland issued €100 million of 100-year bonds with a coupon of 2.35% The UK...
28 April 2016
How to tell whether rough winds will shake the market’s darling buds of MayThe saying “Sell in May, go away and come back again on St. Leger day” is one of the oldest of all market rules of thumb and after a tricky start to the year it is one which may attract more attention than normal as 1 May approaches.
This column has taken the plunge and burrowed through performance data for the FTSE All-Share stretching back to...
