AJ Bell Money & Markets

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, we dive into a story about seven investment trusts under attack from an activist investor. The big retail companies have started to report on Christmas trading and not everyone is smiling about the outlook. You can also hear about the changing cost of keeping the lights on at home and why the Lifetime ISA is under review. There’s been a sell-off in UK government bonds and the pound, causing jitters on the market at the start of the new year. Dan Coatsworth explains what’s going on. [00:02:06] Hedge fund Saba Capital has got its sights on the UK investment trust sector and wants to get behind the driving seat of seven names including Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust and Herald Investment Trust. Dan takes a closer look and chats about why it’s so important for investors to vote on the proposals and what could happen next. [00:05:14] Sue Inglis, an independent non-executive director from Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, is on the podcast to share her experiences of being on the receiving end of an activist investor attack, and her thoughts on Saba’s proposals. [00:11:25] Gas and electricity bills went up again on 1 January, when the latest energy price cap took effect. Charlene Young considers the impact to UK households and what they can do about it. [00:19:08] Following a miserable final quarter for UK retail, we’ve now got a host of shopkeepers updating on trading and giving guidance for the year ahead. Tom Sieber looks at what Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Greggs and Next are saying, and what to expect from retailers in 2025. [00:23:09] Charlene considers the reasons why the Government has announced a review of the Lifetime ISA and what might happen next. [00:35:29] Finally, Danni Hewson chats to Dominic Weller, fund manager of the Octopus UK Future Generations Fund, about whether investing for change can also come with chunky returns now that interest rates are slowly on their way down. [00:40:17]

On the last AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast of 2024, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss what markets are now thinking about the trajectory for interest rate cuts in 2025 after the Federal Reserve’s latest comments. [03:47] In the UK, inflation has been creeping back up and there are warnings of a potential recession as private sector hiring falls at its fastest rate in four years following the Budget. With rates expected to be higher for longer that’s good news for savers. [11:52] Dan looks back at the winners and losers of 2024 on the market including some names that might come as a surprise. [14:00] There might be big changes ahead in the automotive sector after reports that car giants Honda and Nissan could be considering a merger. Danni considers why this might happen. [20:19] The long running saga of whether Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services would be taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is now close to the end point, as Dan explains. [24:16] UK households are reeling after the water watchdog gave the go-ahead for bill rises which will average out at an extra £31 a year. [26:06] Jean Roche from the Schroder UK Midcap Fund joins us on the episode of the podcast. She talks through the potential opportunity for those FTSE 250 companies in the new year and why the investment trust’s policy is to ditch mid-caps if they succeed in climbing into the FTSE 100. [33:39]

This week’s episode of the Money & Markets podcast explores the cost of putting food and drink on the table at Christmas, how supermarkets are coping in the festive season, and why higher cocoa prices could lead to a marriage of two chocolate giants. We talk to experts about big UK stocks and how Donald Trump’s return to the White House could impact green policies. You can also hear about changes to the FTSE 100, why the car finance scandal could be bigger than previous expected, and what’s going on with UK rental charges. Kicking things off, Danni Hewson has some interesting figures on the supermarket sector which is gearing up for one of its busiest times of the year. [1:38] Dan Coatsworth discusses how the cost of a Christmas dinner has gone up a lot this year. [4:35] The pair also chat about why a cup of coffee is going up yet again and why a hike in the price of cocoa might lead to a big US takeover deal. There is speculation that Cadbury’s owner Mondelez might have another go at buying Hershey’s. [8:08] The FTSE 100 index has going through a bit of a change with a few new members including Games Workshop, another set to leave over the next 12 to 18 months (Ashtead) and a new name which is big enough to join but won’t be given an admission ticket (Canal+). [13:23] The car finance scandal keeps getting bigger and the regulator has now said it could be on the scale of PPI which cost banks £50 billion. Dan has all the details. [17:50] Anna Farmbrough and Ben Needham from NinetyOne UK Equity Income fund join us on this week’s podcast to talk about Wetherspoons, Diageo and more. [22:06] Frustrated with the cost of renting in the UK? Danni has some potential good news. [35:50] We also hear from Impax Environmental Markets’ co-manager Fotis Chatzimichalakis about the potential change to green policies under Donald Trump. [39:04]

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast: the US-focused fund manager with a market-beating performance over the past 12 months and where he sees markets going next Stateside. The team talk ChatGPT and why car insurance should get cheaper next year. You can also hear about the challenges facing automotive companies, an expert on UK shares and big changes to Premium Bonds. Takeovers continue to come thick and fast on the UK market and Dan Coatsworth is here to talk about the latest deals being made. Tom Sieber also updates on the challenges in the automotive sector and why Elon Musk is being denied $56 billion. [10:52] Cormac Weldon from the Artemis US Select Fund talks to Dan about what Donald Trump could do next, and where he sees the US market heading in 2025. His fund has returned 38% in the 12 months to 2 December 2024 versus 33% from the S&P 500 index, in sterling terms. [14:07] Drivers could be in line for a £50 car insurance saving next year, predict experts. That’s down to an important change in how personal injury compensation payments are calculated. Tom explains all. [26:27] Dan has been celebrating ChatGPT’s second anniversary by digging into the impact it’s had on companies. [29:03] Amid news that NS&I is cutting the effective rate on Premium Bonds from January, Tom asks if the savings products are still worth it. [34:56] We also hear from Polar Capital UK Value Opportunities Fund manager Georgina Hamilton on the outlook for UK shares in 2025. [37:21]

On this month’s bonus podcast focusing on investment trusts, the AJ Bell Money & Markets team dig into star performers, US trusts and global small caps. Dan Coatsworth talks to Julian Bishop, co-manager of Brunner Investment Trust which is celebrating one of its best years in a long time. Julian explains how the trust has done well, his thoughts on the Magnificent Seven, why he’s sold out of weight-loss drug provider Novo-Nordisk, and what could happen in 2025. [01:16] Steve Frazer and Tom Sieber take a deep dive into Manchester & London, one of this year’s best performing trusts. While returns have been strong in 2024, the trust has attracted its fair share of critics over the years, so Steve and Tom take a balanced look at the company. [22:34] Following the US election, Martin Gamble and Ian Conway talk about the differences between the range of US-focused investment trusts that trade on the UK stock market and what they’re trying to achieve. [35:22] We’ve also got a chat with Columbia Threadneedle fund manager Nish Patel about The Global Smaller Companies Trust. [47:16]

This week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast looks at the challenges being faced by global automakers. (01:31) In the UK the speed of the transition to net zero and fines for not meeting targets has been cited as one reason behind Stellantis’ decision to close its factory in Luton. The government has said it will consult on the phase out as Ford’s UK boss calls for incentives for motorists. (06:42) Danni Hewson explains how Donald Trump’s threat to introduce tariffs on day one of his presidency is likely to hit the auto sector particularly hard including US firms like General Motors which has a huge manufacturing hub in Mexico. There’s been a flurry of takeover action on London markets (10:15) with Direct Line turning down Aviva’s approach which would create the UK’s largest car insurer, but pub and restaurant group Lounger’s is backing a £338 million bid from Fortress saying its growth hasn’t been reflected by its market valuation. (23:16 )With Christmas fast approaching Laura Suter looks into warnings that many Black Friday deals aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and assesses a warning from HMRC that scammers are using the lure of tax rebates to catch people out. With the number of UK adults owning crypto currencies on the rise the FCA has said it will finally look to regulate the sector. A third of investors wrongly believe they could complain to the regulator if something went wrong. (28:23) Plus, Imogen Harris from the Premier Miton Global Smaller Companies Fund on why a $22 billion company is considered to be a small cap in the UK (14:16) and Nick Clay from Redwheel Global Equity Income Fund on whether companies now care more about share buybacks than dividends (39:31)

This week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast compares challenges in the UK and US retail sectors, examines Nvidia’s latest results and talks about why so few of us are using cash day-to-day. We’ve also got interviews with AJ Bell’s CEO and an Asia-focused fund manager who hates China. Danni Hewson explains the latest UK inflation figures and what they mean for savers, investors and borrowers. [01:02] Nvidia caused quite a stir with its latest financial results and Dan Coatsworth is on the podcast to explain exactly what’s going on. [06:47] There’s been a lot of grumbling from the heads of UK high street companies following the Budget last month and this week the government was presented with a letter from some of the country’s biggest retailers. Find out what some of the biggest names in industry had to say. [10:45] The podcast also looks at what some of the major names in US retail are saying about the state of the consumer Stateside, including Walmart, Target and TJX. [16:11] Even though the Budget is now in the rear-view mirror, many investors are still getting to grips with what it means for them. One person who is acutely aware of the challenges it has created is Michael Summersgill, chief executive of AJ Bell. Don’t miss what he has to say on this week's podcast. [22:37] Do you still pay for things with coins or notes, or are you completely dependent on cards? New research would suggest not many of us carry change in our pocket. Danni and Dan talk notes, coins and card-readers galore. [29:44] Finally, Asia can be a fruitful place to find dividends and Jason Pidcock from Jupiter Asian Income Fund has been investing in the Asia Pacific region since the early 1990s. Dan met up with Jason to talk about the hunt for income, his thoughts on China, and why a Trump victory puts the spotlight on one of the most important companies in the global semiconductor supply chain. [36:02]

On this week’s episode, Charlene Young and Laith Khalaf talk you through the impact on business of rising National Insurance and minimum wage bills. Plus, labour market data for the period to September showed us the gloomy reality for businesses before the Budget as stalling investment and hiring plans fuelled rising redundancies and unemployment. The Bank of England voted 8-1 to cut interest rates last week but forecasts published alongside the announcement give us an insight into just how inflationary the bank thinks Rachel Reeves’ Budget will prove, and the likelihood of her achieving her pledge of ‘growth, growth, growth’. Bitcoin gets a double mention – not only has it been breaking records but a UK pension scheme has announced it will be allocated 3% of its assets to diversify its investment base, in a break with tradition in the pension space. [11:42] Dan Coatsworth interviews Jack Caffrey from the JP Morgan American Investment Trust for his take on the US election and why the market reacted like it did to that Donald Trump victory. [25:21] It’s also looking like a record year for flows into Exchange Traded Funds. What are ETFs are what has made them so popular? [39:14] We also discuss why first-time buyers might find the frozen Lifetime ISA property limit locks them out of their dream family home [44:00], and outflows from Fundsmith Equity [50:01].

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Charlene Young assess the market reaction to Donald Trump winning the US presidential election and heading back to the White House. There have been some clear winners and losers as investors pile into so-called “Trump Trades” with bitcoin, banks and Tesla among the biggest gainers. The potential for a tariff fuelled trade war has sent stocks like Diageo down whilst the renewable sector is also under pressure with one of Trumps slogans – “drill baby drill” sparking speculation the US oil and gas sector will boom. It may feel like a long time, but the UK Budget was only a week ago and Danni and Charlene discuss changes to inheritance tax which will be exacerbated by frozen thresholds and whether people who pulled out tax-free cash from their pensions amidst pre-Budget speculation about changes, can put it back if they’ve changed their mind. Plus, Danni’s been chatting to Simon Gergel from The Merchants Trust about how some of the UK’s biggest listed companies might be impacted by the Budget. Finally, Tom Sieber and Ian Conway from Shares magazine discuss Lotus Bakeries, the brains behind Biscoff and a great stock performer in recent years.

This month’s bonus podcast from the AJ Bell Money & Markets team on investment trusts explores the underperformance at the UK’s biggest investment Trust, Scottish Mortgage, and looks at why investors are becoming less enthused with ESG. Danni Hewson catches up with Dale Nicholls, manager of the Fidelity China Special Situations Trust to talk about Chinese stimulus measures and the potential impact of the US election on the Chinese economy. Meanwhile Dan Coatsworth talks to Ian “Franco” Francis, manager of the CQS New City High Yield Fund to find out what falling interest rates mean for bond investors. And we also unpack the pros and cons of investing in Venture Capital Trusts.

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast team react to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget, explaining how the new rules affect consumers and businesses. There was a lot of speculation about big changes to the tax system so Danni Hewson, Charlene Young and Dan Coatsworth cover off the main points, explaining which rates are changing and which ones are staying the same. This includes big news around capital gains tax and inheritance tax. There is some good news on ISAs and pensions, and Dan explains why there was a positive market reaction to the Budget. The FTSE 250 and AIM indices jumped on the announcement, so listen to the podcast to find out why. The team also analyse the new economic forecasts for the UK and the challenges ahead for not just the government, but also businesses across the country.

On this episode of the AJ Bell money and markets podcast Danni Hewson is joined by Shares Magazine editor Tom Sieber to pick through the most interesting points of this earnings season so far. From the re-jig of the menu at Starbucks from the new man in charge as sales keep falling to a Netflix subscription slowdown, Tesla’s return to better form and in the UK Hollywood Bowl’s mega strike. Mike Asheley set’s his sites on running Boohoo and Boeing’s back on the back foot after employees rejected another improved pay deal. Less than a week out from the UK’s budget the pair discuss the state of the UK’s public finances and calls from the hospitality sector for Rachel Reeves to act on business rates or risk a high street meltdown. And less than two weeks from the US election Dan Coatsworth has been chatting with Ron Temple chief market strategist at Lazar Asset Management about what might happen to certain assets and sectors depending on which candidate gets to the White House. Plus, Gold hits fresh record highs and the value of lost pension pots in the UK has now reached a staggering £31 billion.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Charlene Young assess the market reaction to a large fall in UK inflation which has raised expectations that the Bank of England might cut rates twice before the end of the year. They’re joined by Tom Selby, AJ Bell’s director of public policy, to discuss ongoing Budget speculation which has unsettled many pension savers and prompted AJ Bell to call on the Treasury to commit to a pension tax lock. They also discuss the impact of Budget speculation on markets with housebuilders like Barratt up and gambling companies like Entain down. Dan Coatsworth talks to Ailsa Craig and Marek Poszepczynski from the International Biotechnology Trust about what we might see next for the weight-loss drug boom. Dan also chat to Nick Purves from Temple Bar Investment Trust about finding opportunities when parts of the market look cheap. You can also hear why automakers Stellantis and BMW have warned policy makers they need to think again about the pace of the transition to electric vehicles if they’re going to protect manufacturing jobs and why Boeing is looking to raise funds to help it keep its head above water.

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laith Khalaf discuss if Google could really be broken up. It’s something the US government has asked a court to consider over concerns over its dominance of the search space. They also discuss why our waning appetite for snacks has taken a bite out of PepsiCo’s sales and why a cost shock sent UK housebuilder Vistry’s shares tumbling. We hear from Ryan Hughes, managing director of AJ Bell Investments, about why the US has been the worst performing market for UK investors over the last quarter plus how the race to the White House is being priced in by markets. As the UK’s Budget draws closer, we discuss some of the speculation about what might hop out of the Chancellor’s hat when it comes to pensions, plus why there’s been a boom in annuity sales. Rachel Vahey is on the show to answer listeners’ questions on pensions. This week she talks about the limits on paying in excess income once you’ve started to draw your pension.

This month’s bonus podcast from the AJ Bell Money & Markets team on investment trusts explores two different ways to add a flavour of private equity to ISAs and pensions. We talk to Oakley Capital Investments’ Steven Tredget about tapping into private equity funds, while Gresham House’s Ken Wotton, fund manager of Strategic Equity Capital, explains how to apply private equity investment techniques to public markets. Dan Coatsworth talks to Emma Bird, head of investment trust research at Winterflood, about how trusts can provide a smoother stream of dividends than open-ended funds. Dan also talks with Tom Sieber about the latest results from JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, while Steve Frazer and Ian Conway explore Baillie Gifford’s Monks Investment Trust and what it is trying to achieve.

This week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast discusses scams and how banks and big tech companies are working together to protect consumers and stop people losing money. Dan Coatsworth chats about the divergent fortunes for Nike and JD Sports as they issue their latest financial results. Laith Khalaf explains the big changes to energy bills and what people can do if they are struggling financially. Shares magazine’s Ian Conway and Martin Gamble take a seat at the bar to talk about UK pubs giant Wetherspoons. We also hear about the latest twists and turns involving UK takeovers including Mulberry and MusicMagpie. Danni Hewson chats to Sam Vecht from the BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust about ongoing volatility in that part of the world and why it is somewhat cushioned from current geopolitical tensions. Finally, we’ve got some eye-opening figures on the amount of money being poured into Cash ISAs.

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast: Dan Coatsworth looks at the market reaction to China’s stimulus package to boost growth and a six-times earnings mortgage announcement from Nationwide. Charlene Young talks us through a cliff-edge in the tax system that could lose high earning parents up to £20,000 in childcare support and how pension contributions can help you claim money back. Also, how to check if you've got over £2,000 in a child trust fund you didn’t even know about. With gold prices continuing to break records, Danni Hewson talks to Stuart O’Reilly from the Royal Mint about what investors should consider when it comes to investing in precious metals. In our second interview, Dan chats to Slater Investments co-founder Mark Slater about why he likes Tesco and his ideas for driving up demand for UK stocks and shares. Plus, we wish Shares Magazine a very happy 25th birthday!

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast: interest rates have dominated the news agenda so Danni Hewson unpacks what the big rate cuts in the US mean for investors around the world. Changes to rates now or potentially in the near future mean interest rates are also changing on cash savings. The podcast team take a look at the latest trends and why the financial regulator has issued a warning to the public about cash. The team also chat about the tax implications of so many people having taken advantage of higher returns on cash in recent years. Dan Coatsworth talks to fund manager Mark Costar from JO Hambro about the outlook for Rolls-Royce and Primark’s owner, Associated British Foods. There’s a lot going on in the property sector with new data on house prices, takeovers galore among housebuilders and a big share price rally from one of the UK’s best known DIY companies. Dan and Danni have all the details. If you’re one of many people who prefer to pay insurance premiums on a monthly basis, you might be alarmed by some new figures which the team discuss on the podcast. And finally, it is now less than 100 days until Christmas and would you believe it, people are already talking about festive spending.

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast debates big news for people in retirement. Charlene Young reveals by how much the state pension will rise and who is eligible for the full uplift. Dan Coatsworth chats about Apple’s new version of its iPhone and how its share price has moved on average before and after previous upgrades to its flagship product. You can hear about the latest economic and markets news, including takeover activity involving Rightmove and Centamin, and why shares in the British arm of TGI Friday’s fell by 90% in a day. Don’t miss the second part of our interview with Finsbury Growth & Income fund manager Nick Train. He gives his thoughts on the general market, the trust’s performance and a fascinating insight into Unilever. We’ve also got an interview with Stuart Widdowson from Odyssean Investment Trust about investing in smaller companies.

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast is back with a bumper episode looking at the market wobbles at the beginning of August and September amid fears about the strength of the US economy and a slowing of Nvidia’s AI growth story. Danni Hewson and Laura Suter also discuss the potential path of interest rate cuts as well as discussing some interesting M&A activity including Rupert Murdoch’s REA Group’s plot for UK property platform Rightmove. Hot off the heels of Rightmove’s takeover interest, Dan Coatsworth talks to one of its biggest shareholders, Nick Train from Finsbury Growth & Income Trust about the news and his thoughts on two other big-name FTSE 100 stocks. We’ve got plenty of pension action too, including how much the state pension is set to rise next year and AJ Bell’s Rachel Vahey answers your questions.

Lots of investors are increasingly turning to cheap tracker funds which means the pressure is on investment trusts to not only outperform the market and prove their worth, but also make their charges more competitive. Dan Coatsworth talks to Annabel Brodie-Smith from the Association of Investment Companies about this topic and to find out which trusts have the highest and lowest costs for investors. Paul Niven, manager of retail investor favourite F&C Investment Trust, is on this week’s podcast to discuss the summer’s market sell-off and whether it has prompted big changes in his portfolio. Laith Khalaf talks to James Carthew from QuotedData about the big merger between Alliance Trust and Witan which is expected to complete in the next few months. 3i Group continues to be one of the few investment trusts to trade at a chunky premium to the value of its underlying assets, so we asked Tom Sieber and Steve Frazer from Shares magazine to explain why investors are happy to pay up to own the shares. Tom also chats about BlackRock World Mining’s latest results and why there is some bad news for anyone thinking metal producers are a great source of dividends.

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Charlene Young dig into the market meltdown that followed disappointing results from ‘Magnificent Seven’ club members Tesla and Alphabet. They discuss the negative impact of electric vehicle production on Ford and Nissan and why GM is delaying its plans to build a green Buick. Ryanair profits tumble as it cuts back on fare hikes, but EasyJet is ramping up for a record summer. Get the podcast team’s take on the airline sector. Tom Sieber and Ian Conway from Shares magazine discuss moves by consumer goods giant Reckitt to sell off large parts of its business. Dan Coatsworth chats to Sunil Krishnan from Aviva Investors about ‘reflation’ and how it impacts certain investments. We also get an update on AJ Bell funds from James Flintoft, Head of Investment Solutions at AJ Bell. Also in the last episode before the summer break, Danni and Charlene discuss the return of the sub-4% mortgage and why more people have been using cash to budget.

With gold have just hit a new record high, don’t miss this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast where Dan Coatsworth talks to Rob Crayfourd from the Golden Prospect Precious Metals Fund. The pair discuss gold’s ascent and why there might be a big turning point for the gold mining sector on the horizon. We’ve seen some big movements on the US and UK stock market over the past week linked to geopolitical issues, inflation and jobs data. Dan analyses the market reaction and what it means for investors. This week’s episode features a great interview with James Lowen at JOHCM UK Equity Income about housebuilders, EasyJet and ITV. Charlene Young chats about some of the key money-related bits in the King’s Speech and why AJ Bell is calling for major changes to ISAs to help simplify saving and investing. Finally, if you’ve ever wondered about the value of luxury handbags and whether they’ve delivered a better return than stocks and shares, Charlene has fascinating insight into this market.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Laura Suter and Tom Sieber dive into the latest consumer spending trends from Barclays, revealing how economic pressures are shaping our financial habits, and they discover how saving money can improve your sleep and mental health. They also deliver the latest updates on housebuilders Vistry and Barratt Developments amid planning challenges and rising costs, preview the upcoming US second quarter reporting season, highlighting key companies to watch, and discuss the wider implications of a profit warning from recruiter PageGroup. Plus, don't miss our interviews with fund managers discussing the UK property market and alternative income sources for investors.

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Laura Suter assess the market reaction to a Labour landslide. Charlene Young and Danni Hewson discuss how the Fed comments and new economic data has driven a new rally in US and Asian markets amid hopes of interest rate cuts. They look back on the big investing themes of the year including AI and UK takeovers, while also updating on the latest news from Tesla whose sales fell less than expected and how Sainsbury’s is being weighed down by Argos. Tom Sieber and Ian Conway from Shares magazine put sportswear giant Nike under the spotlight. The podcast team also debate energy prices, why May saw record ISA inflows and how house prices are still rising even as mortgage approvals slow.

This month’s bonus podcast on investment trusts dives into the world of technology. Steve Frazer chats with Mike Seidenberg from Allianz Technology Trust about the latest trends in the space, the hype around AI including Nvidia, and what’s on the fund manager’s mind at the moment. Dan Coatsworth talks to Joe Bauernfreund from AVI Global about the world of activist investors and why he has taken stakes in Reckitt and Entain. Tom Sieber chats with Urban Logistics’ Justin Upton about the property sector and why this trust walked away from a potential merger with a rival. We’ve also got Martin Gamble and Ian Conway debating the merits of Bankers Investment Trust.

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast goes big on pensions. Charlene Young, Tom Selby and Laith Khalaf discuss some of the key issues you need to understand, whatever age you are. Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss what’s been a volatile week for tech stocks with AI chipmaker Nvidia losing billions of dollars off its market value, and Microsoft and Apple potentially facing huge fines from EU regulators. As Shein edges closer to a London listing, the podcast team debate why investors are nervous and whether the IPO will actually happen. Danni also explores Frasers’ efforts to add another revenue stream via the buy now, pay later market. We’ve also got Abbas Barkhordar from Schroders on the show to talk about investing in Asia.

In the latest AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Dan and Laura begin with the UK inflation rate reaching the Bank of England's 2% target, exploring its implications for interest rates. They also discuss Nvidia's remarkable rise to become the world’s most valuable company, and shifts in market shares among supermarkets. Laura brings some analysis of the political party manifestos for the upcoming election, including Labour's plan to introduce new banking hubs. The duo also look at the recent changes to Barclays’ Blue Rewards scheme, which have upset many customers. Dan speaks to Neil Shah from Edison, who shares insights on improving the UK stock market, and he interviews Dean Orrico, manager of the Middlefield Canadian Investment Trust, to discuss the impact of rate cuts in Canada and parallels with the UK market.

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Tom Selby dig through the general election manifestos and assess what the measures might mean for your money. From further cuts to National Insurance and the pension “Quad-lock” proposed by the Conservatives to Labour’s decision not to bring back the lifetime allowance and the Lib Dem’s proposal to reform capital gains tax, the podcast has all the important details. Danni looks at a plethora of economic data including jobs and GDP figures and how they might impact interest rate decisions. The team discuss Apple’s AI gambit and why it has upset Elon Musk. There is also chat about Raspberry Pi’s well-received London IPO. Finally, Dan Coatsworth talks to Will Orr from the Gym Group about how the nation is spending more money on health and fitness and the role his company plays.

Have you ever thought about delaying the point at which you start collecting the state pension? If so, don’t miss this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast as Rachel Vahey chats about the pros and cons of going down this route. Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth discuss a plethora of good news from the retail sector including updates from Zara-owner Inditex and discounter B&M. They also explore why WH Smith has revived the Toys R Us brand in its UK stores. The nation continues to pile into Cash ISAs, as Dan discusses on this week’s podcast. He also explores why the oil price suddenly dropped. Tune into a fascinating interview with Rockwood Strategic fund manager Richard Staveley who talks about investing in small cap stocks and why he is supportive of a new UK ISA. Finally, Ross Driver explains why Foresight Solar shareholders are voting on whether to keep the investment trust going or wind it up.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Investment Trust show, Dan Coatsworth talks to Emma Bird from Winterflood about why certain investment trusts trade below their value of their assets. Martin Gamble and Ian Conway conduct a deep dive into City of London Investment Trust and why it is so popular with investors. Tom Sieber explores Scottish Mortgage’s latest financial results and chats about the best and worst performing trusts year-to-date. Ever wondered what’s the difference between an investment trust and an open-ended fund? Laith Khalaf has all the answers in our educational slot.

Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young bring you this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. We’re covering the latest takeover news, ask whether the pressure is piling on Nick Train at the Finsbury Growth and Income Trust and what is happening with the NatWest share deal. Dan discusses how and why markets have taken a step back this week and gives us an insight into the upcoming FTSE quarterly reshuffle. Charlene Young has the latest on the takeover situation for Royal Mail’s parent company and how markets aren’t quite as confident how it’ll clear the next hurdle of government approval. Tom Selby, director of public policy at AJ Bell, discusses the triple-lock-plus pledge from the Conservatives and some worrying research highlighting the confusion around when exactly you might be able to claim your state pension. Charlene asks Wealth Wizards’ chief executive Ben Hampton about joint FCA and Treasury proposals to get more people investing, namely what help do people want, when should they consider advice and what changes could consumers see as part of effort to close the so-called “advice gap”. Martin Gamble and Tom Sieber also join us from Shares magazine to discuss big growth plans from AstraZeneca.

Join Danni Hewson and Laura Suter for the latest episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast. This week, we look at market reaction to the shock news of a General Election and dive into the latest UK inflation figures that prompted it. We also discuss Nvidia's stellar performance and BHP and Anglo American entering takeover talks. The duo also get insights on why European markets are capturing investor attention once again from Stefan Gries, co-manager of BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust. Laura brings you the latest on the FCA's crackdown on finfluencers and the troubling rise in UK fraud figures. Plus, don't miss our conversation with AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill, who shares his candid thoughts on the proposed UK ISA and its potential impact on the market.

It’s happened again: GameStop, AMC and other titans of the pandemic meme stock craze have soared on the stock market. Dan Coatsworth explains why we’re seeing the phenomenon play out once more, and how it was triggered by a single picture of a person sitting in a chair. The ban on UK energy firms offering cheaper deals to new customers could be scrapped from October as the regulator is eager to revive competition between suppliers. That means people will be soon be able to shop around for better gas and electricity deals – something that is also good news for a certain stock on the London market, as Dan reveals on the podcast. Danni Hewson explores the rise of ultra-long mortgages and why many people might still be paying off their home loan as they enter retirement. AJ Bell’s Rachel Vahey is on the show to explain why some people have to pay emergency tax on an ad-hoc lump sum pension withdrawals. You can also hear a great interview with Situl Jobanputra from London’s West End property giant Shaftesbury Capital, and sparkling chat between Danni and Dan about diamonds, scandals in the mining industry and why Burberry is firmly out of fashion.

On this week’s podcast we’ll be bringing you all the latest market news, from Disney to Wetherspoons through to Apple, as well as an update on the housing market – and the outlook for house prices for the rest of the year. We’ve also had figures this week that showed that 300,000 people filed their tax return early – and we’ll look at why you might want to join those eager beavers. There are three fund manager interviews this week. First up is AJ Bell’s head of investments solutions James Flintoft, who talks about what’s going on in certain geographies and how AJ Bell’s funds performed in the first quarter of the year. Next is Paul Angell, AJ Bell’s head of investment research, talking about the outlook for bonds. The final interview is with Rob Crayfourd and Keith Watson, who co-manage three funds: CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income, Geiger Counter, and Golden Prospect, to explain three of the key commodities produced by miners on the stock market.

It’s bonus podcast time: welcome to episode four of the AJ Bell investment trust show. We discuss a range of topics with investment experts and fund managers. Each episode debates some of the most popular trusts with retail investors, the big topics that matter, and a little bit of educational material to get listeners up to speed. This episode focuses on governance, finding bargains and private equity. One of the differences between traditional funds and investment trusts is the latter have a board of directors. They’re meant to keep a check on what the manager is doing and uphold high levels of corporate governance but that doesn’t always happen. Laith Khalaf talks to James Carthew from research group QuotedData about what the board should really be doing. We’ve had some requests to look at Ruffer Investment Company so Tom Sieber and Martin Gamble from Shares magazine join us on the podcast to talk about this investment trust and the broader capital preservation space. Migo Opportunities Trust knows a thing or two about how to find bargains among investment trusts so we invited co-manager Charlotte Cuthbertson to explain what trends and opportunities she’s seeing at the moment. To round things off, we take a look at the world of private equity because the UK financial regulator has got a bee in its bonnet about a few things in the industry. Joining Dan Coatsworth to talk about what the FCA is reviewing is Alan Gauld from Patria Private Equity Trust.

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Charlene Young deliver a jam-packed episode for you peppered with that optimism after the FTSE 100 smashed new records and ended the month up once again while Wall Street struggled against rate cut blues. They discuss reaction to the latest Fed decision, the big consumer names like Starbucks and Yum! Brands feeling the inflation blowback, and AI-charged stocks Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft. Dan Coatsworth has done a very timely interview with JP Morgan Claverhouse fund manager Callum Abbot on the good and the bad of the UK stock market. With mortgage approvals hitting an 18-month high last month, Danni quizzes David Hollingworth from L&C Mortgages about what he’s seeing in the market.

We’ve got some good news from the UK stock market. Danni Hewson chats about how the FTSE 100 has hit a new record high and the drivers behind it. She also talks with Dan Coatsworth about the latest developments from key companies both sides of the Atlantic. The pair discuss Tesla’s surprise announcement, Pepsi’s trading-down problem, JD Sports aiming to generate 40% of sales from the US, and an activist investor snapping up bonds in troubled utility company Thames Water. You can hear about an alarming number of adults still living with their parents in their 30s and what the property industry wants the government to do to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder. Dan discusses the disappearance of generous cash incentives to switch bank account and the surge in people switching credit card deals. Finally, Tom Sieber and Ian Conway from Shares magazine get under the bonnet of Associated British Foods and how there is a lot more to the business than its retail arm, Primark.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Dan Coatsworth look at cooling inflation and how markets reacted to the latest numbers on UK jobs. The rise in scams is the hot topic of the week, with over £1 million reportedly lost this year already by ‘Swifties’ – Taylor Swift fans desperate to get their hands on tour tickets. Our guest is Ayush Abhijeet from Ashoka India Equity Trust, who chats to Danni Hewson about where he sees the potential value in what’s likely to be the G20’s fastest growing economy once again this year. Charlene has an update on the enquiry into the collapse of the Woodford Equity Fund and how the regulator was going to give one of parties involved a £50 million fine but then chose not to. Dan covers upbeat news on IPOs, a takeover approach for Royal Mail and a deal involving 90s food favourite TGI Friday’s. We wrap things up with figures on charity gifting and Charlene explains how gift aid rules give UK charities a 25% boost on donations received but also possible tax relief for those making the donations.

On this episode of the Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laura Suter assess market reaction to the latest US inflation data that came in hotter than expected and reset expectation of when the Fed might cut interest rates. The pair mull over what that might mean for UK rates and Laura digs in to the latest FCA Financial Lives survey which shows things are improving for UK households, though 7 million households are still struggling to pay bills. Earnings season has started all over again and kicking things off in the UK the country’s biggest supermarket Tesco reports a jump in profits as price cuts keep shoppers in store. Danni looks into what that might signal for the weeks ahead, plus what the former Tesco boss Jason Tarry might bring to John Lewis and Shell’s shock announcement that it could consider moving its listing to New York. AJ Bell’s head of policy Rachel Vahey is on hand to deliver our pensions corner and she’ll be answering one of your questions about the potential tax implications as the state pension increases and our guest this week is Catherine Yueng Investment Director at Fidelity Asian Values – she explains why she still sees China as a good investment.

Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson debate the big news from Disney. Activist investor Nelson Peltz has been defeated in his attempts to get a seat on the board of directors, so what does this mean going forward? Gold has hit another record high so Dan dives into the reasons why the precious metal is doing so well. Danni digests some disappointing news from Tesla and what it means for the electric vehicle space. Tom Sieber from Shares magazine talks about the state of the UK stock market and a warning from one of the big brokers that we could see hundreds more companies disappear from the London Stock Exchange over the coming years. Jeremy Hunt promised us a new British Savings Bond when he gave his Budget last month and we’ve now got all the important details. Dan weighs up the pros and cons of the new savings vehicle. Meanwhile, Danni explores the rise of the billionaire and why it might be worth looking down the back of the sofa for some chocolate coins.

Welcome to the third instalment in a new series of bonus podcasts from the AJ Bell Money & Markets team all about investment trusts. Published at the start of each month, the bonus podcast features a range of topics with investment experts and fund managers, with each episode debating some of the most popular trusts with retail investors, the big topics that matter, and a little bit of educational material to get listeners up to speed. This episode focuses on income, growth, the UK and renewable energy. Laith Khalaf talks to Annabel Brodie-Smith from the Association of Investment Companies about dividend heroes. These are investment trusts that have raised their dividend every year for at least 20 years in a row. Martin Gamble and Tom Sieber from Shares magazine explore the rise of JPMorgan Global Growth & Income and how it has become one of the most popular trusts with UK investors. Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Partners is on the show to explain the different ways you can invest in the UK following plans by the Government to launch a British ISA. Meanwhile, Dan Coatsworth talks to James Smith from Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust about why the renewable energy space has been a disappointing place to invest recently, and what is needed for the sector to deliver better returns.

On this week’s podcast we’ve got disappointing updates from both Lululemon and Nike, signalling that perhaps the athleisure trend is coming to an end. We’ve also got news on the Government’s sale of Natwest and a deep-dive on Apple from our friends at Shares magazine. Trump has been dominating the headlines ahead of the US election, but he’s hit them for a different reason now: his media business has floated on the stock market – we cover how the float went. And our interview this week is with Ewan Markson-Brown from the Crux Asia ex-Japan Fund, who explains why he’s excited about prospects for the electric vehicle sector. Looking away from markets, we have an update on the Waspi campaign, and whether they are really likely to be in line for £10bn in compensation, and we have details of a new mortgage for first-time buyers that only requires a £5,000 deposit. Finally, we look at some news on how all our supermarket shopping habits have changed – and why we are opting for pricier brands. And cover another drop in food inflation – which might spell good news for overall inflation figures.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Charlene Young dig through the latest UK inflation figures and bring you up to date on market reaction to central bank rate decisions. They also chat about Unilever’s decision to spin off its ice cream empire, Nvidia’s continued moves to dominate the AI sector and the Chancellor’s comments that the pension triple lock will need to be looked at again after the next election. Dan Coatsworth gives us a sneaky peak into what’s in the baskets of ISA millionaires as well as where investors have been investing their ISA money over the past few months. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust is always a firm favourite in ISAs but it’s had a tricky run of late. Danni chats to deputy manager Laurence Burns about why he feels it has turned a corner. Laura Suter gets out her spreadsheet to show how a Lifetime ISA can help first-time buyers shave years off the slog to get a house deposit together. With some parents about to get a child benefit windfall thanks to the raising of high-income thresholds, Charlene explains how a Junior ISA can help you turn that into a chunky nest egg for your kids.

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast we explore the rise of Chinese e-commerce platform Temu and how it is taking the retail sector by storm. Dan Coatsworth talks to Ewan Markson-Brown from the Crux Asia ex-Japan Fund about why he invests in Temu’s owner PDD and why Donald Trump’s presidential comeback attempt has weighed on the company’s share price. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould considers the latest inflation figures and what central banks might do next with rates. Danni Hewson explores the growing cost of vet bills and why concerns by the UK competition watchdog have led to a formal investigation of the sector including whether consumers are being overcharged for medicine and prescriptions. Dan considers the latest results from Domino’s Pizza and Dollar Tree and what they tell us about the state of the UK and US consumer. He also looks at new figures showing a decline in Cash ISA subscriptions, while Danni explores big changes to the basket of goods used to calculate UK inflation.

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast examines what the UK government’s latest Budget means for you and your money. Danni Hewson considers the OBR’s new economic forecasts and the market reaction to the Budget. Dan Coatsworth explores the new British ISA, how it might work and why it is not the perfect solution to getting more people interested in investing and supporting UK businesses. Pensions news was thin on the ground in the Budget but Charlene Young has found some nuggets worth digesting. Also on the podcast: good news for parents looking for help meeting the cost of childcare and changes to capital gains tax on the sale of second homes. The team also discuss how the UK government has confirmed plans to push ahead with the sale of its stake in NatWest by summer at the earliest.

Welcome to the second in a new series of bonus podcasts from the AJ Bell Money & Markets team all about investment trusts. Published at the start of each month, the bonus podcast features a range of topics with investment experts and fund managers, with each episode debating some of the most popular trusts with retail investors, the big topics that matter, and a little bit of educational material to get listeners up to speed. This episode focuses on underperforming fund managers and mergers. Should you pay a fund manager to try and outperform or use a low-cost tracker fund that simply follows the market and doesn’t try to beat it? It’s a key conundrum for investors, particularly as many big-name fund managers have lagged the market in recent years. Dan Coatsworth debates this topic with Stuart Gray, co-portfolio manager at Alliance Trust. Nick Train-managed Finsbury Growth & Income is among the trusts that have underperformed over the past three years so Ian Conway and Steven Frazer from Shares magazine are on the podcast to discuss what the trust is trying to do and whether there are flaws to its strategy. Shares magazine’s Tom Sieber also joins the podcast to talk about an investment trust that is shooting for the moon as it hopes to make money from investing in space. So far, Seraphim Space Investment Trust has delivered poor returns for shareholders who invested at its stock market debut in 2021. Dan chats with James Carthew, head of investment company research at QuotedData, about the growing trend for mergers in the investment trust space. We’ve also got Laith Khalaf to run through what it means if one of the trusts in your portfolio goes through a merger, takeover or decides to be shut down.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast Danni is joined by new host, AJ Bell’s pensions and savings expert Charlene Young. The pair discuss the CMA’s announcement that it is investigating whether eight UK housebuilders including Barratt and Taylor Wimpey have been sharing commercially sensitive information that could have affected house prices. Danni digs into whether Shein’s consideration of a London listing comes with warning signs and whether a bidding war could be about to start for electrical retailer Currys. Charlene considers warnings by the IFS that the Chancellor must prove any tax cuts are affordable, and the good news that food price inflation is finally falling. Dan Coatsworth has been chatting to a couple of people who know tech stocks inside out AND backwards – we’ll hear from Maneesh Bajaj from Brown Advisory’s US Flexible Equity Fund which is invested in most of the Magnificent Seven. Now the dust has settled, we’ve brought back George Dent from BNY Mellon Long-Term Global Equity Fund to talk about semiconductors. Tom Sieber from Shares magazine also joins the show to consider if Disney has really lost its way.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson dig into Nvidia’s barnstorming results which have put a rocket under stock markets, including new record highs in Japan and Europe. It was a mixed picture for UK banks with HSBC shares plummeting the most since the pandemic after a cocktail of negative factors in its results. The team also weigh up the key points from Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest from their latest results. Dan chats to Fundsmith Equity Fund manager Terry Smith and head of research Julian Robins about why they are excited by a certain stock in the pharmaceutical sector as weight-loss drugs take off. Danni catches up with former Dragon Sarah Willingham and her husband Michael Toxvaerd about expanding their Nightcap empire at a time that hospitality is struggling. The podcast team also discuss the potential headroom in the Chancellors’ budget which could give the green light to pre-election tax cuts, why the governor of the Bank of England thinks the UK recession is already behind us, and the new bank notes featuring King Charles coming to a wallet near you in the next few months.

There is a big tech theme running through this week’s edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. Dan Coatsworth explains how investors have been piling into Arm Holdings as a new way to play the artificial intelligence theme, while Nvidia has leapfrogged Alphabet to become the third largest company on Wall Street by market value. This week’s special guest is George Dent who is part of the investment team managing the BNY Mellon Long-Term Global Equity Fund. He gives a fascinating interview about everything to do with Microsoft and why it remains so popular with investors. We’ve had a wealth of new data on inflation and the economy which have significant implications for the direction of interest rates. Laith Khalaf examines the data and what might happen next for savers, borrowers and investors. Dan considers what The Body Shop’s UK operations going into administration means for shoppers and the retail sector. Laith talks through the reasons behind Bitcoin rising above the $50,000 level and he also reveals the steps investors are taking to avoid losing more of their gains to the taxman from 6 April.