1 July 2025
Daily market update: Japan trade talk, Sainsbury's, SSE, National Grid“Asian markets saw mixed fortunes as investors waited for updates on trade talks and Trump’s tax-reduction bill,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“The Nikkei 225 fared worst as it looked as if relations were strained between the US and Japan, which doesn’t bode well for tariff negotiations.
“Donald Trump took to social media to...
30 June 2025
Daily market update: Canada trade drama, Trump bill, Shein IPO, WH Smith“There is a lot going on to influence markets before the summer lull and investors’ animal spirits continue to fuel the equities space,” says Dan Coatsworth, Investment Analyst at AJ Bell.
“Investors seem confident trade deals will be struck, geopolitical tensions ease, and a major economic slump is avoided. The big unknown is whether investors are...
27 June 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from Sainsbury's, M&S and Currys in the coming weekRuss Mould, AJ Bell's Investment Director, dives into recent announcements from Sainsbury's, M&S and Currys, and details of what to look out for in upcoming releases.
27 June 2025
Trump ups heat on Powell and Fed, Nvidia hits new record highTo say Donald Trump likes picking fights is an understatement, and with his dust-up with Elon Musk seemingly in the past, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell is Trump’s next target. The US president has been throwing critical bombs at Powell for weeks, demanding immediate rate cuts, while a couple of Powell’s colleagues had also called for lower...
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
BP bid: is takeover talk credible and how might it rank against other FTSE 100 bids?Shell buying BP is second only to a bid for ITV as the perennial takeover talk that won’t go away. The fact rumours keep circulating might suggest there is some truth in the matter, be it Shell or someone else looking to buy the UK oil and gas producer.
This is a difficult one to call. All big companies will look hard at any acquisition...
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
What’s shaped markets in the first half of 2025?Tariffs, downgrades to earnings and economic forecasts and geopolitical conflict were the defining factors for markets in the first half of 2025. They’ve caused considerable uncertainty which has affected asset prices, as well as business and consumer confidence.
It’s led to one of the biggest shifts in investor preferences for years, with certain...
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...
20 June 2025
Rising geopolitical tensions leave markets searching for directionUS markets struggled to make progress in a shortened trading week as concerns over the Israel-Iran conflict clouded the outlook.
Energy prices rose, with WTI crude futures pushing though $75 per barrel to a three-month high, while the dollar continued its descent against other major currencies.
The Federal Reserve meeting, normally the highlight of...
20 June 2025
Daily market update: markets recover, Berkeley, retail stocks“Markets recovered some ground as the US appeared to temporarily pull back from the prospect of intervening directly in the Israel-Iran conflict,” says AJ Bell Investment Analyst Dan Coatsworth.
“Trading in Asia was mixed as China kept interest rates unchanged, while the US market was closed yesterday for the Juneteenth federal holiday. Early on...
20 June 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from Currys, Babcock and Telecom PlusAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould highlights the companies scheduled to report in the coming week and specifically discusses what to expect from Currys (CURY), Babcock International (BAB) and Telecom Plus (TEP).
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...
19 June 2025
Revealed: the original AIM stocks that are still on the market 30 years laterWhile AIM’s 30th anniversary has been clouded by talk of how the market is shrinking fast, there are still reasons to celebrate its achievements. A good chunk of AIM’s original members have gone on to score a winning goal for investors’ portfolios.
Eleven companies that joined AIM in its first six months of existence are still on the UK stock...
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...
16 June 2025
Daily market update: oil prices, gold, Metro Bank, Entain“European shares were surprisingly resilient against a backdrop of uncertainty,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“Helping to prop up FTSE 100 was continued strength in oil prices as tensions remained high in the Middle East. Crude oil rose 1.1% to $72 per barrel, driving shares in FTSE heavyweights BP and Shell and taking the...
13 June 2025
Trump-Musk spat, crash questions for BoeingDonald Trump’s spat with Elon Musk had started to look like another volatility event in the making but the pair both appear to have cooled their heels over the past week with a more conciliatory tone struck.
Trump wished the Tesla boss ‘well, very well’, after heaping praise on Musk’s Starlink satellites service (owned by Musk company SpaceX)...
13 June 2025
Daily market update: FTSE 100, oil, gold, Boeing, Adobe“The FTSE 100 did not have long to bask in the glory of reaching a new record close last night with Israel’s military strikes on Iran putting stocks on the back foot globally,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Concern about an escalating conflict in the Middle East saw oil hit its highest level since January and gold was also in demand...
12 June 2025
Russ Mould: What to expect from Ashtead, Speedy Hire and Berkeley when they report next weekAJ Bell Investment Director, Russ Mould tells us about some macroeconomic news to keep an eye out for in the coming week, as well as taking a look at what analysts are likely to expect from Ashtead (AHT), Speedy Hire (SDY) and Berkeley (BKG) when they report next week.
12 June 2025
Daily market update: BP, Shell, tariffs, Halma, Tesco, Poundland“Having narrowly missed closing at a new record high last night, the FTSE 100 held firm at the market open as strength in energy and tech was offset by weakness in banking shares,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
“Escalating tensions between the US and Iran helped oil prices to a two-month high and gave heavyweight stocks BP and Shell...
11 June 2025
More companies queue up to transfer from AIM to London’s Main Market as junior market approaches 30th birthdayAIM turns 30 on 19 June and its celebrations have been overshadowed by the shrinking number of companies on the market. While it is natural to see the tail end disappear as tiny companies cannot justify the cost of being listed, and takeovers across the market continue with pace, there is an underappreciated trend elsewhere.
The number of AIM...
