Markets: did any big shares rise during the past week's turmoil?

“Stock markets are fighting back after a horrific week. On Friday, both London and the main European markets were in positive territory, so too Asia. Commodity prices also picked up with notable gains in gold and oil. “While it is too early to tell the precise mood of investors, it initially looks as if there are some individuals regaining an appetite for risk, hence why you’ve seen gains in miners and tech firms on Friday,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.

Markets: did any big shares rise during the past week's turmoil?

“The market sell-off over the past week hasn’t dragged everything down in price. Looking at the data since 3 October, which marked the last time the FTSE 100 closed above the 7,500 level and last night’s market close, nine stocks actually increased in value.

“BT is at the top of the list amid chatter that it could be broken up. Gold miners Randgold Resources and Fresnillo benefited from resurgence in the gold price as investors flocked to supposedly safe-haven assets during the market sell-off.

“The identities of some of the other outperformers is more surprising, including Primark-owner Associated British Foods and Marks & Spencer given they’re exposure to the struggling UK high street.

“More traditionally defensive stocks like utilities Severn Trent and National Grid have held up well against the sell-off. Investors are likely to have bought their shares for generous income, the same stands with Direct Line. Supermarket Tesco rounds off the list of nine ‘risers’.

“Bumping along at the bottom of the performance table over the same timeframe were cyclical stocks like equipment hire business Ashtead and industrials Melrose Industries and Rolls-Royce.

“Packaging businesses including Mondi and DS Smith were in the doldrums thanks to fears over rising industry supply.”

Best and worst performers in the latest market sell-off period

BEST:

BT +3.6%

Randgold Resources +2.5%

Fresnillo +1.7%

Associated British Foods +1.7%

Marks & Spencer +1.6%

WORST:

Ashtead -17.4%

Smurfit Kappa -16%

DS Smith -15.3%

Mondi -15.2%

Croda -15.1%

Data from 3 Oct 2018 market close to 11 Oct 2018 market close, excludes investment trusts

Source: AJ Bell

MARKETS: YEAR TO DATE PERFORMANCE

“Despite all the noise about a widespread sell-off in equities, it is still possible to have made money from some of the major stock markets this year.

“Brazil’s Bovespa index is the best performer among the major indices, up just over 9% so far in 2018. And US markets in general are still sitting in positive territory. The Nasdaq 100 is up 9%, S&P 500 is up 2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up just over 1%.

“The UK markets sadly don’t fare as well. The FTSE 100 is now down nearly 9% year-to-date with the worst performing stocks being technology group Micro Focus (down 46%), miner Fresnillo (down 41%) and asset manager Standard Life Aberdeen (down 36%). The top FTSE 100 performers are food delivery group Ocado (up 101%), media group Sky (up 71%) and miner Evraz (up 53%).

“Spare a thought for investors with funds tracking Asian markets. China’s SSE Composite Index is down 22% so far this year, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is down 14%.

“The performance is broadly similar on a five-year view. Assuming all dividends were reinvested, the greatest total return among the major indices is the Nasdaq 100 at 115%. Brazil’s Bovespa index has a 57% total return over five years, and the FTSE 100 stands at 31%.

“The worst performer is Russia’s Trading System index, down nearly 23% on a five year total return basis.”

These articles are for information purposes only and are not a personal recommendation or advice.