Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Shares in Ashtead rally on Trump victory

(Sharecast News) - Shares in Ashtead Group soared on Wednesday, on hopes US revenues at the British firm would be boosted following the historic re-election of Donald Trump as president.

The equipment rental company, which has considerable exposure to the US through American arm Sunbelt, raced to the top of the FTSE 100 leaders board, putting on 6% at 6,308p by noon GMT.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the stock had benefited from "the prospect of more building work created by Trump's desire to drive the US economy, including greater manufacturing and construction work".

He added: "As a hirer of construction equipment, it is a direct play on hammers and tools pounding away across the country."

Ashtead was one of numerous global stocks to react to Trump securing an emphatic win in the US presidential and Senate elections overnight.

Miner Ferrexpo, which is listed in London with assets in Ukraine, surged 22% to 75.7p, the biggest riser in London, on hopes Trump would move to end the war.

Finalto's chief market analyst Neil Wilson called Ferrexpo an "Ukraine peace play".

Outside of the UK, Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International surged 9%. The lender is the largest western bank still operating in Russia, with more than half of its global profits coming from Russia and Belarus in the first half of the current year.

In the US, meanwhile, electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors spiked 13% in the pre-market trading. Billionaire chief executive Elon Musk, who donated millions to the Trump campaign, and has been promised a role in the new administration.

American banks also benefited, from hopes that interest rates would stay higher for longer under Trump. Both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs jumped 8%.

But while oil majors pushed higher on the back of Trump's long-held enthusiasm for the sector, renewable stocks - which had risen in recent weeks on hopes of a Democrat win under Kamala Harris - fell sharply.

Danish offshore wind farm developer Orsted tumbled 11% while Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems, a major turbine manufacturer, was off 10%.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

ECR Minerals upbeat on maiden drilling at Tambo Gold Project
(Sharecast News) - ECR Minerals updated the market on its maiden diamond drilling campaign at the Tambo Gold Project in Victoria, Australia on Wednesday, focusing on the Duke of Cornwall prospect.
Power Metal acquires Saskatchewan's Pardoe Uranium Project
(Sharecast News) - Exploration company Power Metal Resources announced the acquisition of the Pardoe Uranium Project in northern Saskatchewan, Canada on Wednesday, through direct mineral claim staking.
Eden Research fungicide added to German organics list
(Sharecast News) - Sustainable biopesticides and biocontrol specialist Eden Research announced on Wednesday that its flagship fungicide Mevalone has been added to the Organic Input List by FiBL Germany - a key certification for products used in organic farming.
Ascent Resources reports progress in JV partner insolvency claims
(Sharecast News) - Ascent Resources updated the market on the insolvency proceedings of its former Slovenian joint venture partner Geoenergo on Wednesday, confirming progress in its claims to recover funds.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.