Martin Gamble

US markets were back on the front foot this week with the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite index leading the charge, gaining 1.5%, and the Dow Jones Industrials scaling to a new high.

Earnings momentum can be a powerful factor driving the performance of company shares.

Some analysts believe Apple is at risk of falling behind in the AI race due to its slow adoption and the delayed roll-out of advanced features.

US markets took a step back amid escalating military exchanges between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz which sent Brent crude oil prices back above $85 per barrel.

US stocks were firmly on the back foot this week, driven by continued weakness across large technology companies, as worries build on AI spending.

Recruitment firms are seen as bellwethers for the health of the economy, so recent share price strength raises the question of whether we are seeing a legitimate signal of growth or just a relief rally after a long period of weakness.

Investors have two main options when it comes to investing in bonds . These are government bonds and corporate bonds

Facebook owner Meta saw its share price plummet around 9% after it released second quarter results that revealed the high levels of spending on AI were, for the moment, having low levels of payoff.

US stock markets had a see-saw week, initially sitting on losses before Microsoft's results helped boost sentiment and push indices higher.

In investing it is just as important to understand where the risks are accumulating as well as potential buying opportunities.