AJ Bell Money & Markets

Laura Suter and Tom Selby look at what the latest jobs figures mean for the Bank of England’s next interest rate decision, as well as the latest banks to report their results and what it tells us about the state of the savings market. Tom dives into figures on the number of pensioners that will be pushed into paying more income tax. They also look at the latest eye-opening figures on scams. And investment director Ryan Hughes covers a bevvy of investment news, from the fallout in the UK property fund world, to the expensive tracker funds costing you over the odds and what the latest UK government bond yields mean for you. Tom continues that bond theme in his pension corner, looking at whether those nearing retirement need to worry about gilt yields and the impact it could have on their portfolio.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laura Suter dig into a pile of economic data from wage growth numbers to the volatility on markets following the stalled UK inflation print which saw housebuilders including Barratt Development tumble. Danni checks out earnings updates from big US banks including JP Morgan and Bank of America and a crowd-pleasing turn from Premier Inn-owner Whitbread. Tom Selby is on hand to explain what the latest wage and inflation numbers mean for the state pension triple lock as well as answering a question about tax relief once you are over 75. Laura’s been crunching the numbers on how much the income bands tax freeze is costing you and Tom Sieber chats to Jim Strang from HG Capital Trust about investing in privately-owned technology companies.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson is joined by Tom Sieber from Shares magazine to discuss another volatile week on the markets. Investors have clearly been shaken by those awful scenes in the Middle East and there are a lot of eyes watching the oil price. Comments from Federal Reserve officials suggesting no further rate hikes are likely to be needed in the US saw markets return to the front foot ahead of the third quarter earnings season. Tom talks through what investors will be looking out for as companies ready their quarterly updates while Danni discusses why the latest numbers from luxury goods maker LVMH disappointed investors. Danni and Tom consider the Birkenstock IPO and whether the iconic footwear brand can do better in the US than Dr Martens has on the UK market. Also this week: Dan Coatsworth talks to James Henderson from Law Debenture about what it would take for UK stocks to bounce back, and the fund manager gives his thoughts on ITV and Rolls-Royce.

Laura Suter has some money-making tips in this week’s podcast including where to get more than 6% on cash savings and where to find attractive incentives to switch current account provider. She also talks about the pay rise for anyone in a minimum wage job. Dan Coatsworth explains why global stock markets have taken a wobble following a sell-off in government bonds. He also talks about the latest results from Tesco and why Boohoo is going through a tough patch. Social media networks could soon be following in the footsteps of streaming platforms by charging users more money if they don’t want to see advertising or have their personal details used for targeted advertising. Dan and Laura debate this matter and what it means for consumers. This week’s special guest is Richard Sem from Pantheon Infrastructure who talks to Danni Hewson about the opportunities and pitfalls of investing in global digital networks as connectivity becomes more important.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson is joined by AJ Bell’s head of retirement policy Tom Selby who brings us up-to-date on rumours around ISA simplification which are reportedly being considered by the Government. The pair assess how markets and currencies have reacted since both the Fed and the Bank of England held interest rates. You can hear about property stocks including British Land and Land Securities which have come under pressure after analysts cut ratings, and how tech giant Meta paid a record-breaking amount to pull out of one London lease as hybrid working becomes further engrained. Danni mulls over a mixed bag of results from retailers like Next and H&M and gives her two-penneth on why the sun is shining for some companies and not others. Plus, Dan Coatsworth chats to Pruksa Iamthongthong from Asia Dragon Trust about China’s disappointing post-covid rebound and explains what investors need to think about and Tom delivers another “pensions corner”, this one on salary sacrifice.

On this episode of the Money & Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson mull over the factors behind a surprise fall in UK headline inflation in spite of rising fuel costs. Dan digs into the surge in profit warnings from UK companies including B&Q owner Kingfisher, fashion retailer Quiz and online alcohol seller Naked Wines. Reports suggest Frasers is about to strike a strategic deal with Chinese retail giant Shein – Dan talks about the speculated move and what it could mean for the retail sector. The podcast chats about Walt Disney following speculation it is about to make big changes including the potential sale of some media assets and news that it will invest $60 billion in its theme parks. Neil Shah, Director of Research at Edison, joins the show to talk to Danni about the lack of IPOs on the London market and what he thinks investors should expect as 2023 draws to a close. Plus, why rents are rising at a record pace and the changes to auto-enrolment that allow 18-year-olds to access workplace pensions.

The price of oil has gone up by more than 25% in two months, creating a new inflationary headwind for consumers and businesses. Dan Coatsworth talks to AJ Bell’s Russ Mould about why the black stuff is suddenly more expensive, what it means for the cost of petrol and why it could have a big impact on central bank interest rate decisions. Laura Suter explains where customers stand if they need to return faulty goods or spend gift vouchers at collapsed retailer Wilko. Dan explores the rise of shoplifting, what it tells us about the state of consumer finances, how it is hurting corporate profits margins and why social media is making the problem even worse. Laura discusses a new report that explores financial inequality, with women having less in savings, investments and pensions then men. You can also hear about Tesla’s big opportunity with a supercomputer called Dojo which has triggered another big rise in its share price, as well as ARM’s return to the stock market and why Restaurant Group is paying someone to take the Frankie & Benny’s casual dining chain off its hands.

We’re back from our summer break! And there is lots of markets news to cover – Danni Hewson has got an update on what happened over the summer and also the latest on Wilko’s collapse, M&S heading back into the FTSE 100 and the surprising company that has become Europe’s most valuable. We’ve also got news out from Barratt Homes that’s hot off the press and gives an insight into the housing market – and Laura Suter will be giving an update on the mortgage market. We’ll be discussing the date for the Autumn Statement – and giving a lowdown on what that means and why it matters. Finally, our interview is with James Wootton, partner at Linklaters, about the planned changes to listing rules in the UK and what it means for investors.

This week Danni Hewson and Laura Suter will be diving into all the detail on the news that NatWest’s boss Alison Rose has quit amid the Nigel Farage furore. They’ll also be looking at the big tech companies announcing results, including Microsoft and Alphabet, as well as the first of the big UK banks to report – Lloyds. We’ll be covering the financial impact of those wildfires in Greece, both on holidaymakers and on investors. Laura has got some interesting figures showing that parents are raiding their kids’ piggy banks as budgets get depleted amid rising prices, and Danni is chatting to Chris Tennant from Fidelity Emerging Markets about where he sees opportunities for growth in Latin America.

On this week’s AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson dig through the latest UK inflation data which has delivered a shot of optimism to investors. They mull over how the Bank of England might react to cooling prices, look at which stocks on the market have been benefiting from the change in sentiment and ask if the optimism is really warranted. Higher interest rates have delivered something of a bonanza for many big US banks with Wells Fargo and Bank of America amongst those racking up big profits. Dan delves into the figures. With actors joining writers on the picket lines in Hollywood for the first time in sixty years the pair assess which stocks could be impacted, with Paramount, Disney and Warner Bros Discovery already experiencing share price declines. AJ Bell’s head of retirement policy Tom Selby is back to talk about government plans for small pension pots. Plus, Dan talks to Joe Bauernfreund from AVI Global Trust about what he makes of this year’s market movements and where he sees opportunities now.

Tom Selby considers Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s strategy to boost the average pension pot by £1,000 a year and why the plan has flaws. Laura Suter talks about some remarkable figures on the amount of money in savings accounts that pay no interest and how there has been yet another error made on state pension payments. Dan Coatsworth chats with Dominic Scriven from investment trust Vietnam Enterprise Investments Limited about investing in Vietnam. Dan also explains the importance of the latest Bank of England stress test on UK banks. The podcast also features two 15-year-olds talking about how teenagers manage money and how schools can improve personal finance education.

This week Laura Suter is shedding light on all the government moves aimed at easing the cost of living pressure on our finances, from petrol prices to supermarket bills and savings rates. Danni Hewson brings you the latest markets news, including Tesla’s record delivery, US-China tensions and JD Sports emerging in new markets. Our interview this week is with Nick Greenwood from Migo Opportunities Trust about takeover potential in the renewable energy and infrastructure space, and we’ll also be looking at the latest figures on how much tax we’re all being charged on our savings, as the Government’s tax take rockets.

In the second in a series of bonus podcasts from the Shares magazine team to accompany AJ Bell’s Money & Markets podcast, Tom Sieber, Steve Frazer and Ian Conway take a close look at two stocks enjoying vastly contrasting fortunes of late. The pod discuss the efforts of recently appointed Tufan Erginbilgic to turn around aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce and whether he can back up some big talk with action, after a strong run for the shares at the start of 2023 petered out. Items up for discussion include the impact of the pandemic and subsequent recovery in air travel and how important cash flow will be to judging Erginbilgic’s success or failure. Ian talks through some research he has done on online groceries firm Ocado’s volatility, something much in evidence amid recent speculation over a bid from Amazon. Doubt is cast on these links as the company’s troubles are dissected.

Dan Coatsworth chats about retailer Frasers which seems to be playing a long running game of high street Monopoly. He also explains why car insurance premiums are going up. Danni Hewson discusses why tensions in Russia haven’t really moved markets and she explores Boohoo’s spat with Revolution Beauty. Dan chats to fund manager Ben Ritchie about Dunedin Income Trust’s 150th anniversary and how the investment trust has evolved over the years. Also on this week’s show: shares in cruise companies are in the spotlight after a bookings bonanza while Walgreens looks to offload hundreds of Boots stores. Inflation is still enemy number one for many companies and despite an excellent performance from some household names, markets are looking distinctly lopsided with a chunk of FTSE 350 stocks disappointing investors since the start of the year. Danni explains how supermarket bosses held their own during a grilling from MPs over rising prices. She also looks at the problems with Thames Water and whether regulation in the sector will be tightened.

This week’s podcast explores the market reaction to UK interest rates going up once again. Laura Suter talks to David Hollingworth from mortgage broker L&C about whether someone should fix their mortgage or stay on a variable rate. Dan Coatsworth explores the companies which are starting to feel the pain from higher interest rates including housebuilder Berkeley, builders’ merchant Travis Perkins and car seller Motorpoint. Tom Sieber considers the takeover rumours surrounding Ocado and why some companies in the retail and leisure sectors have shrugged off the negative backdrop to report decent trading. Finally, Dan talks to Rod Wong from investment trust RTW Venture about investing in the biotech space.

This week Danni Hewson and Laura Suter have got a lot of big Government data that both the Bank of England and homeowners aren’t exactly thrilled by – and we’ll be looking stateside too, to see how the inflation battle is faring there. We’ll be covering the impact that UK data has had on the mortgage market – and it’s not pretty. It’s not just the weather that’s heating up, but also M&A activity in UK companies; from a deal for the biggest mobile phone provider in the UK to Mike Ashley’s latest purchase. In our fund manager interview this week, Dan Coatsworth talks to Argonaut Capital’s Barry Norris about where investors make mistakes with portfolio diversification. And Laura has a handy trick that lets you funnel £36,000 into tax-free savings for your child in less than a year.

This week’s podcast chats about the market reaction to Apple’s foray into headsets, why British American Tobacco is not firing on all cylinders, and the well-known name buying a stake in gambling group 888. Dan Coatsworth talks about how you can get more than 5% interest on cash and how that compares with UK stocks. He also speaks with Nigel Newton, CEO of Bloomsbury Publishing, about how the pandemic book boom has not faded away. Danni Hewson explores the big crackdown on crypto exchanges by US regulators and the cyber breach that’s impacting businesses from British Airways to the BBC. She also talks with Dan about good and bad news from the construction and housebuilding sectors.

This week we’re going to cover that rollercoaster ride that bond markets have been on, once again, and what it means for your investments and your mortgage. Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis, will be giving an update on those tricky US debt ceiling negotiations, as well as explaining why your pension might be used to inject growth into the UK stock market. On top of that Laura Suter has got an update on the energy price cap and why people have been rushing to use their ISAs. We’re delving into the mining sector with our fund manager interview this week, with Evy Hambro, manager of the Blackrock world mining trust. And we’ll have the latest markets news, including Nvidia posting bumper profits.

In the first in a series of bonus podcasts from the Shares magazine team to accompany AJ Bell’s Money & Markets podcast, Tom Sieber, Steve Frazer and Martin Gamble hold an insightful discussion on two stocks. The trio dig into the problems which have dogged Vodafone and the prospects for new boss Margherita Della Valle of turning things around. Dividends, debt and the machinations of a big new shareholder are all up for discussion as part of an analysis of what’s gone wrong at the FTSE 100 firm. Martin also talks about the company behind brands like KFC and Pizza Hut and how it has been so successful over the years.

On the podcast this week, we’ve got a bevvy of company news, from Facebook being fined to BT cutting jobs for AI and everyone’s pandemic favourite Zoom holding up pretty well. We’ve got a fund manager interview with Julian Cook from T Rowe Price that looks stateside at what’s been happening in markets there so far this year. Also up this week we’ll be chatting about the latest inflation figures and we’ve got some good news for Nationwide customers, who are getting some extra money in their bank accounts. Finally, we’ll be revealing some slightly worrying new findings from the regulator about younger investors.

On this week’s podcast, Dan Coatsworth explains why Japanese stocks have been doing so well, with the TOPIX index hitting a 33-year high. He also chats about the negative market reaction to Watches of Switzerland’s latest update and how that news, along with further declines in diamond prices, suggests cracks in the luxury goods market. Danni Hewson discusses bad news from Home Depot and she also considers the big profit target from JD Sports. You can hear about the panic around the US debt ceiling deadline and why it’s important to watch Eurozone inflation. Laura Suter talks to Sunil Krishnan from Aviva investors about multi-asset investing, and Dan and Danni discuss a warning from the FCA that 11 million people in the UK are struggling to pay their bills.

On this week’s money and markets podcast we take a look back at the good, the bad and the downright ugly from this week’s earnings updates. Danni Hewson picks over this week’s losers including PayPal, Airbnb and ASOS and the big winners including British Airways owner IAG which is now back in profit and sending analysts rushing to upgrade their stock price targets. Plus, wheeling and dealing with JD Sports’ next move in its overseas growth plan and Ryanair snaps up at least 150 Boeing Max 10s. House prices might have declined in April after three months of recovery but it’s still tough out there, especially when it comes to first time buyers paying exorbitant rents. Laura Suter gives us the lowdown on a new 100% mortgage from Skipton Building Society aimed at renters who don’t have the backing of the bank of mum and dad and Danni and Laura chat through the latest US inflation numbers. Rachel Vahey, AJ Bell’s head of policy development, talks through why AJ Bell is calling for “One ISA” rather than the hodgepodge of complicated offerings currently available. Dan Coatsworth also talks to Tejas Dessai from GlobalX about how technology could significantly change how we shop for groceries, clothes and more.

This week’s podcast discusses the impact of the King’s coronation on the UK economy. Dan Coatsworth discusses the latest results from UK banks and US tech firms including Lloyds and Meta Platforms. He also debates the potential changes to the UK listing rules as the regulator tries to get more companies to list their shares on the London Stock Exchange. Laith Khalaf considers the Liberal Democrats’ call for a probe into whether some food companies are profiting too much from the cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, Danni Hewson talks to Tom Williams, investment manager of Downing Renewables and Infrastructure Trust, about what the UK Government needs to do to boost green investment and hit climate targets.

On this week’s podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson talk through a bumper crop of earnings including the first update from big tech with both Microsoft and Alphabet beating expectations. First Republic sent shivers back through markets as the US regional bank reveals more than $100 billion dollars was withdrawn during last month’s crisis of confidence. A whole host of global consumer giants from Nestle to Coca-Cola have reported and it seems brand is a powerful thing with customers prepared to keep paying more for the things they love despite the cost-of-living crisis. The UK’s competition watchdog has been flexing its muscles – blocking Microsoft’s takeover of gaming giant Activision Blizzard and it may also be given new powers to tackle businesses that carry fake reviews which has big implications for the consumer and could result in large fines for offenders. Dan also talks to Ritu Vohora from T.Rowe Price about the latest events on the markets.

This week’s podcast explores why so many companies are receiving takeover offers and why the recent banking crisis could force some banks to push up rates on savings accounts. Tom Selby explores potential changes to how much protection the UK government offers on cash in the bank, as well as delving into the world of finfluencers. Dan Coatsworth chats about the latest results from Netflix and he interviews Nicholas Weindling from JPMorgan Japanese investment trust about opportunities in that part of Asia.

This week we look at the latest employment and inflation numbers in the US, as well as Elon Musk’s views on his purchase of Twitter. We’ll cover the big announcements from the IMF, of a bleak outlook for the UK economy and its prediction that lower interest rates are on the horizon – a big relief for mortgage holders. We have not one but two fund manager interviews this week to discuss the hot topic of the banking crisis and its knock-on effect on markets. The first is with the manager of Fidelity European Trust, about how the financials-heavy trust navigated the recent crisis, and the second is with Edmund Harriss, chief investment officer of Guinness Global Investors. We’ll also be revealing a little-known benefit that could help grandparents boost their state pension.

On this week’s money and markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laith Khalaf discuss Opec+ shock cut to oil production which has stoked fear that central bankers might have to do more to tackle inflation if the price keeps rising. Fears of a global banking crisis might have faded but there were plenty of angry words directed at Credit Suisse’s chairman and CEO at the bank’s last ever shareholder meeting. Virgin Orbit’s been put up for sale following January’s failed rocket launch meanwhile Cineworld is off the market at the struggling chain failed to find a buyer and instead is looking to raise almost £2 billion from its lenders and investors. There’s been plenty of M&A activity going on with beauty giant L’Oreal buying Australian Aesop and Glencore’s play for Canadian miner Teck was rejected but is there more cash in the kitty? Plus, Laura Suter chats to Jasmine Yeo fund manager at Ruffer Investment Trust about shoring up their defensive assets and house prices fall by the most in a month since 2009.

Find out the latest events in the banking sector and why some of the big US tech stocks have bounced back after a miserable showing in 2022. Dan Coatsworth also explores why the stock market gave the thumbs down to the latest results from retailer Next. Laura Suter talks pocket money and children’s savings with GoHenry’s Louise Hill and Tom Selby answers a listener’s question about tax-free cash from pensions. We’re near the end of the tax year which means investors should act quickly if they want to make the most of any allowances before big changes from 6 April. Laith Khalaf has all the details.

This week we’ve got a full update on the ongoing crisis in the banking with Russ Mould joining us to explain what is actually happening and how it might impact you. Danni Hewson is filling us in on all the stock market news this week, including more job cuts at Amazon and the next stage of the sale of Man United. We’ve drafted in our pensions expert Tom Selby to explain the detail of those Budget pension changes from last week and how they will work in practice. We’ve got all the info on that boardroom spat at Scottish Mortgage and Laura Suter has a little update on why savings rates at NS&I might be about to significantly improve.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson consider what’s been a tumultuous week for global markets after not one, but two US banks collapsed sending banking stocks tumbling. There was more turmoil after Credit Suisse revealed material weakness in its financial reporting which only served to ratchet up the tension. And into the mix dropped the latest US inflation figures which showed headline prices are falling slowly but the all-important core number edged up raising the question – what will the Fed think is more important to deal with next week - because investors are betting on a rate hike slowdown We’ve also got your Budget special right here with post-game analysis from Tom Selby AJ Bell’s head of retirement policy digging into the scrapping of the lifetime allowance and head of investment analysis Laith Khalaf looking at the big picture as the chancellor sails close to the wind with public finances whilst delivering some crowd pleasing moments including rolling out free 30 hours childcare to children from 9 months and a U-turn on plans to increase the amount households pay on their energy bills over the next three months.

This week’s podcast looks at the shifting narrative from the Federal Reserve on interest rates and what ‘higher for longer’ means for investors. Laura Suter discusses the latest on mortgage costs and why a tax-free childcare scheme has been a flop. Dan Coatsworth considers ways to save up for university tuition and accommodation fees via a five and 10-year investment plan. He explores the reasons why shares in Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Premier Foods are rallying. Dan also talks to Josh Jones from Boston Partners about long/short investment strategies.

This week we’ve got the latest on how that new year rally in markets has panned out (spoiler alert: not well), as well as the latest in supermarket price wars. Danni Hewson covers the latest retail figures, from Primark to H&M, as well as some surprising figures from buy now pay later provider Klarna. Laura Suter has an update on energy bills and why they are getting more expensive despite wholesale prices getting cheaper, and she’ll be looking at the latest food inflation figures, which don’t make for pretty reading. On top of that we’ll have the latest investor interview, with real life investors about how they got started. And Dan Coatsworth has our fund manager interview this week, with Ken from Strategic Equity Capital about the rebound in small cap stocks in recent months and where he is seeing the best opportunities.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss why Wall Street’s having a torrid time amidst speculation that the Fed’s rate hike cycle isn’t as close to the top as investors had hoped, and the FTSE 100 gives up its tenuous grip on the psychological 8,000 marks as slow demand from China pulls down miners like Rio Tinto. With that in mind, Dan’s been talking to Stuart Gray from Alliance Trust about what might happen if inflation falls but interest rates stay high. There have been chunky profits from most of the UK’s big high street banks including NatWest but Lloyds sees profit growth stalling as a cold wind blows through the housing market, with Rightmove figures showing the smallest jump in February prices since the financial crash. Plus, the activist investor selling millions of Unilever shares, the short seller attack on Etsy, and Darktrace commissions a review of its finances after allegations of accounting fraud.

Laura Suter and Tom Sieber bring you the podcast this week. We’ve got not one, but two inflation updates for you, and we’ll look at how markets reacted to the news. We look at a dodgy start to UK banks reporting season from Barclays and shedding light on why Lyft stock crashed this week. We’ve also got the latest update from everyone’s favourite savings company, NS&I, with a boost to the prize fund for Premium Bonds, and our fund manager interview this week is with Tom Caddick, Head of investments at NedGroup investments, about where he sees opportunities in the current market. Finally, we’ve also got the first in our series of interviews with investors, talking about why they invest and how it makes them feel. Matt spoke about his journey into investing, with a few key life moments spurring him on, from having a daughter, to getting a windfall of money.

This week we have warnings about the taxman coming for your children’s savings, as well as some more uplifting news about UK markets. Danni Hewson has all the details on the FTSE reaching a new record high, as well as an update on public enemy number one: the oil firms making big profits, and the latest round of tech sector job layoffs. Laura Suter has all the details of a report that proposed big changes to how pensions are taxed, and she’ll be diving into the showdown between bank chiefs and Government ministers this week, for not paying you enough interest on your savings. On top of that, she will be talking through how your children’s savings could land you with an unexpected tax bill. And we’ve also got Dan Coatsworth on the show with an interview with Round Hill Music boss Josh Gruss talking all about music royalties.

On this episode of the Money and Markets podcast one of the most popular investors active today, Terry Smith, is here to talk about Fundsmith Equity Fund and he’s got some choice words to say about two of his holdings. Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson mull over the IMF’s gloomy forecast for the UK economy and canter through some of the companies reporting earnings including McDonalds, Exxon and Intel. Laith Khalaf updates us on UK government plans to regulate the "crypto-verse" and with the success of auto-enrolment resulting in many people having multiple pension pots, AJ Bell’s Head of Policy Development Rachel Vahey discusses the possibility that the DWP will bring back the pot follows member model.

On this episode of Money and Markets we have Shares deputy editor Tom Sieber with all the markets news, from Netflix to Primark, as well as an update on the US. And he’ll also be responding to a listener question about indices, for those passive investors among you. Laura Suter is delving into the latest Government debt figures, looking for whether they give an indicator as to whether we’re headed for a recession or not, and she’s also explaining the new scheme where you can save money by using less energy. Dan Coatsworth brings us an interview with fund manager Ron Temple, talking about UK interest rates and corporate earnings.

On this week’s money and markets podcast Danni Hewson and AJ Bell’s head of retirement policy Tom Selby mull over the latest UK inflation numbers and discuss jobs data which shows more over 50s are heading back into the work place flagging a big issue about pensions. The FTSE 100 continues to flirt with the record books – nudging close to but not quite hitting a new high as UK retailers like Tesco, Currys and WH Smith deliver on the upside. But it’s not all been good news with profits at big US investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley among those taking a big hit with deals down and millions being set aside as recession beckons. Dan Coatsworth has been chatting to Mark Slater from the Slater Growth Fund about the rebound in UK stocks and how 2022 was one of his hardest ever years as a growth investor. And with the reopening of China partly behind the New Year rally, Danni’s been chatting to Ewan Markson Brown, manager of the Crux China Fund, about where he sees the opportunities for investors.

One this week’s Money and Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson dig into Christmas Trading numbers with updates from Sainsbury, JD Sports, Barratt Homes and Direct Line on menu they discuss what those results can tell you about the outlook for 2023. British firms worry about rising energy costs as the government announces that support is changing. Amazon looks to cut costs by closing three UK warehouses plus the latest on reports Goldman Sachs is about to axe thousands of jobs. Plus Terry Smith’s latest missive which shows he’s still got a bone to pick with Unilever and we hear from Richard Shepard-Cross from Custodian Property Income REIT about where he sees value in the market.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants all pupils in the UK to study maths up to the age of 18. Laura Suter explores how making personal finance studies more prominent on the curriculum as part of this maths push would yield significant benefits to individuals later in life. Dan Coatsworth explains why Apple and Tesla shares have dragged down the US market so far in 2023 and he also debates what might be in store from the plethora of trading updates due from the retail sector. Discover why Fundsmith Equity Fund had its first year of negative returns since launch and why manager Terry Smith is not abiding by the fund’s ‘do nothing’ principle. Tom Selby discusses the rules around recycling money back into a pension, while Laura explains why anyone looking for top-paying cash savings deals should act quickly before rates fall. Dan also talks to Ed Smith, co-chief investment officer at Rathbone Investment Management, about solving the problem of slowing productivity.

On this year’s last episode of the money and markets podcast Dan Coatsworth, Danni Hewson, Laura Suter and Laith Khalaf share their thoughts about the year’s pivotal moments from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to “Trussonomics” and why mega caps like Amazon and Apple have lost you money this year. They also discuss the latest inflation figures on both sides of the Atlantic, assess how markets have reacted plus how a winter of strike action in the UK is affecting companies like Moonpig and discuss the latest trading updates from Frasers Group, Zara owner Inditex and the world’s biggest holiday company TUI. With 2023 hurtling towards us we hear from a host of fund managers about their picks for the new year, plus Laith digs into AJ Bell’s latest manager vs machine data and finds that the year’s volatility has actually put the machine in front. And Laura talks interest rate rises and the scammers out to get you this Christmas.

If your train journey has been disrupted by strikes, don’t miss this week’s podcast where Laura Suter will be talking about what rights you have regarding refunds and compensation. Dan Coatsworth looks at the best and worst performing stock markets around the world in 2022. He also discusses what some of the pub companies have been saying about trading amid the World Cup. Tom Selby considers what might happen to the state pension and when people will be able to get it in the future. And the BBC’s Dougal Shaw talks to Danni Hewson about what makes a good company boss.

This week Danni and Laura have got a bumper interviews episode, with lots of great fund managers on to talk about the year that's (almost) passed and the year ahead. Amid signs that inflation could be near its peak, Dan Coatsworth has been asking Lazard fund manager Steve Wreford, about whether investors need to worry about it next year and why high inflation could stay on the agenda for longer than you might think. In markets this week we look at why protests in China have caused markets to wobble, the latest strike action and the impact on companies, and Elon Musk's latest spat. We look at whether the excitement around England reaching the next stage will translate to business for pubs. And we've got a bit of pensions news, as the regulator has made a big announcement about British Steel Pensioners. Dan also chats to Alex Wright from Fidelity Special Values investment trust about his outlook for 2023 and why NatWest sits pride of place in his investment portfolio. And he caught up with Kirsty Desson from abrdn’s Global Smaller Companies Fund about how she’s coped with a difficult year for small caps. Finally, Laura has also been crunching some numbers on the ridiculous situations where you end up paying 99% tax -- or even more -- when you get a payrise.

In a special bonus edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth talks to Nick Train about how his Finsbury Growth & Income Trust has fared in 2022. Nick discusses performance, companies with pricing power, his thoughts on Alan Jope planning to step down as Unilever chief executive, and why Relx remains a big holding for his portfolio. The fund manager also talks about opportunities with Burberry, how much growth you might expect from his portfolio holdings, and whether he’s made new positions following this year’s market sell-off or simply topped up existing holdings.

It’s our 200th episode of the Money and Markets podcast. To celebrate we have three special guests talking about things that really matter to savers and investors. Laura Suter chats to NS&I chief executive Ian Ackerley about premium bonds and savings rates. Dan Coatsworth talks to Polar Capital Technology Trust manager Ben Rogoff about the change in fortunes for tech stocks. Dan asks Ben whether it is time for the Faangs to be relegated and a new group of tech stocks to lead the pack. They also talk about opportunities in the sector following widespread share price declines. Artemis fund manager Rebecca Young explains why investors with a 60/40 equity/bond portfolio shouldn’t panic about the bond component failing to provide support this year. Laith Khalaf looks at the latest activities among equities, currencies and government bonds, while Dan explains why the potential sale of Manchester United football club matters to investors, and why Disney has brought back its old chief executive.

Laith Khalaf and Tom Selby debate the forthcoming changes to taxes and allowances following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. They explain what the changes mean, and which ones are the most significant. Dan Coatsworth and Laura Suter discuss the relevance of Black Friday, whether retailers will enjoy a bumper sales period, and what to think about if you’re trying to cut back on your spending but want to take advantage of discounts in the shops. Dan explains why stock markets have perked up in recent weeks, and he also talks to Fay Ren from the Cerno Pacific Fund about why companies with rich intellectual property can be attractive investments.

Laura and Danni have two interviews this week. The first is with bond fund manager veteran John Pattullo, from Janus Henderson Investors, who will be talking us through how he has navigated the recent market turmoil. And in the second interview Dan Coatsworth catches up with billionaire investor Bill Ackman from Pershing Square Holdings to talk about whether he’s worried about a recession and why he sold out of Netflix and Domino’s Pizza so quickly. Also this week we’ll be looking at the nation’s financial resilience in the current cost of living crisis, as new data reveals 1 in 4 people have less than £100 in savings, as well as talking about that tricky task that everyone puts off: writing a will. And in the market update we’ll cover layoffs at Meta and Twitter, Primark’s decision not to raise prices and the cracks showing in the UK housing market.

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and AJ Bell’s head of Investment Analysis Laith Khalaf mull over those all important interest rate decisions in the US and UK plus renewed calls for additional windfall taxes on Energy companies after BP and Shell announce more bumper profits. They also discuss those government energy payments which should have found their way into your hands and explain what you should do if you’ve not received yours. The deal’s finally done Elon Musk is the head tweet – but what does it mean for the social media platform and what does it mean for Tesla shareholders? With more lockdowns affecting companies like Apple, Disney and Nio in China I’ve caught up with Catherine Yeung investment director at Fidelity about whether there’s anything to speculation that the zero covid policy might be relaxed and what investors should be thinking about when it comes to Chinese companies right now. And what’s up with retail – with pandemic darling Made.com shuffling towards administration and Morrisons planning to ditch over a hundred of the McColl’s stores it only bought in the spring it’s looking like being a very difficult Christmas for the sector.

This week Tom Sieber is going to be looking at whether markets were buoyed by the news of yet another Prime Minister opening their moving boxes at Number 10, and Laura Suter will delve into what the new PM might mean for your money. We have the usual market update, including the potential collapse of online furniture retailer Made.com and the latest antics of Mike Ashley. On top of that, we’ve got Ian Conway from Shares magazine giving an update on a bumper US earnings season, with 45% of the S&P 500 reporting this week. Ryan Hughes from the AJ Bell investment team joins us to answer a listener question on the current bond market turmoil. And finally, we have some alarming news for those people who like to hoard their stamps.

This week we’ve gathered a team of experts to comb through all of the Government’s U-turns and work out what they mean for your money. Laura Suter looks at the income tax reversal and the Energy Price Guarantee, while Laith Khalaf has the details on dividend tax changes that never materialised. Tom Sieber gives us the market reaction to the news, including whether those crucial Gilt yields stabilised, while Tom Selby details the impact on the pensions landscape and that all-important triple lock. The team also debate what is coming down the pipeline from the current Government and the remaining thorny issues the new Chancellor has to wrangle.