AJ Bell Money & Markets

How ISA millionaires are investing their money

Markets have been rocky, energy prices are moving, and the tax year end is approaching fast. In this week’s Money & Markets podcast, we break down the latest market news, what’s happening in the Middle East and energy markets, and why ISA season could be more important than ever for investors. 

We also look at Persimmon’s results and why Domino’s might offer a rare bright spot, plus practical tips on staying calm when markets are volatile. And with the tax year deadline approaching, we answer your most common ISA questions – from lump sum investing to flexible ISAs and avoiding last-minute mistakes. 

You’ll also hear where ISA millionaires are investing right now, and a quickfire round of ISA myths vs facts to help you make smarter decisions before the deadline. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe.  

 

01:22 Middle East tensions & energy market moves 

06:51 Persimmon results - UK housebuilders update  

09:22 Domino’s results – volumes fall on tough conditions 

12:02 Inside the latest issue of Shares magazine 

14:38 How investors can stay calm in volatile markets 

20:26 Personal finance implications of market turbulence 

23:40 Dividend tax changes from 6 April explained 

25:44 ISA millionaires – where they’re investing now 

31:35 ISA Q&A: your questions answered 

41:54 What’s coming up next week 

The Big Sell-Off Explained: How to Protect Your Money

Global markets are sliding — and this week’s selloff is shaking everything from oil and gas to bonds and gold. Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson break down what’s driving the volatility, how past geopolitical conflicts have affected stock markets, and what it all means for investors, portfolios, and your money right now. 

We also unpack Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, including the key wins, the potential risks, and what the new OBR forecasts could mean for your personal finances, UK economy outlook, and interest rates. 

In company news, Greggs surprises the market despite falling profits, TG Jones (the new name in front of old WH Smith stores) struggles on the high street, and BrewDog investors face a harsh lesson in why crowdfunding is not the same as stock market investing. 

There’s also an important update on wills you’ll want to know about — plus two expert interviews exploring the biggest trend in global markets: AI investing. 

Orbis’ Simon Skinner discusses US sectors with an AI tailwind, while Brown Advisory’s Colby Stilson explains why major tech names are issuing bonds to fund massive AI infrastructure projects. 

A huge week, big market moves, and crucial insights for anyone following investment markets, financial news, and longterm investing. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe. 

 

Timestamps 
[02:16] – Market sell-off: What’s moving shares, oil, gas & bonds 
[02:43] – Middle East tensions: How markets behaved in past conflicts 
[15:39] – Spring Statement: What Rachel Reeves’ update means for your money 
[19:11] – Greggs results reaction 
[24:11] – TG Jones struggles on the high street 
[27:54] – BrewDog takeover and the risks of crowdfunding 
[32:17] – Free Will Month explained 
[34:50] – AI interview 1: US sectors with an AI tailwind (Simon Skinner, Orbis) 
[48:40] – AI interview 2: Why big tech is issuing bonds (Colby Stilson, Brown Advisory) 
[01:00:48] – Closing & next week’s ISA special 

Investment Trust Show: How fund managers handle “sin stocks”

Join Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford in a new bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts. They break down the latest trends in investment trust discounts, and which names are looking cheaper or more expensive. 

Dan speaks with Martin Connaghan of Murray International to discuss the investing debate around sin stocks, ethical investing, and whether morals come into fund manager portfolio decisions. 

Hannah interviews Nicola Takada Wood, managing director, Japan at Asset Value Investors about Japan’s recent election and the outlook for investing in the country. 

Finally, Dan chats with Stephen Anness from Invesco Global Equity Income Trust about the prospects for dividend growth and why he's looking in less obvious places for income. 

00:00 — Introduction: What’s coming up 
01:23 — What investment trust discounts are, why they matter, and the big changes observed by Hannah and Dan 
12:42 — Dan talks to Martin Connaghan on sin stocks and ethical investing 
27:25 — Hannah chats with Nicola Takada Wood about Japan’s political landscape and what that means for investors 
41:00 — Interview: Stephen Anness on the search for attractive dividends 

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more insights from the AJ Bell investing team. 

Tariffs fail to knock markets and Meta strikes $60bn AI chip deal with AMD

UK and European markets reach record highs. That's despite the tariff turmoil since the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's liberation day plans. Danni dives into the latest on Meta's deal with AMD, Anthropic's latest plug ins and Paramount up the stakes in the bidding war for Warner Bros.

Diageo’s first results under Sir Dave Lewis show that not even Guinness couldn’t steady the ship at the big brand giant, plus a £1 billion funding boost for UK self-driving tech firm Wayve. Cuts to the energy price cap and the odds of winning on Premium Bonds.

Adam Rackley from the Cape Wrath Focus Fund tells Dan Coatsworth why he likes to invest when others are jumping ship.

[00:10] – Welcome 
[01:34] – Markets are shrugging off the latest tariff drama...for now
[08:45] – Danni Hewson has the latest on the AI arms race, with AMD, Meta and Anthropic
[14:40] – Diageo results show 'Drastic Dave' has his work cut out
[20:00] – Danni shares AJ Bell's consumer trends research findings
[24:00] - UK self driving firm Wayve raises another £1 billion in a funding deal
[27:45] - Bidding war for Warner Bros: Paramount comes back with a sweeter deal
[30:00] – Energy price cap cut: Charlene Young looks at how this measures up against promised £150 cuts to bills
[32:51] - Rachel Reeves delivers her Spring Statement next week; what might be in it? 
[38:11] – NS&I slashes premium bond prize funds rate and chances of winning 
[42:10] – Dan Coatsworth talks value investing with Cape Wrath Focus Fund

The British Stock Riding the SpaceX Boom

Why the UK stock market is smashing expectations in 2026, and a crucial warning about fake celebrity investment ads fooling thousands.

Dan Coatsworth also sits down with Filtronic, the company behind an 800% share price surge and major new contracts with SpaceX. Big gains, big deals – and big insights you won’t want to miss.

If you enjoy this podcast, please select ‘like’ and ‘subscribe’.

 

[00:09] – Welcome & what’s moving markets this week
[01:21] – How the UK stock market is outperforming the US (again)
[03:48] – Why insider trades at Raspberry Pi & M&S really matter
[07:53] – The Japanese toilet company tipped as the next AI winner
[09:36] – UK inflation: Charlene Young breaks down the latest numbers
[12:20] – Scam alert: Charlene exposes fake celebrity investment ads
[16:26] – Filtronic CEO interview: SpaceX contracts, defence deals & an 800% share price surge
[31:49] – Why annuities are suddenly back in demand
[36:19] – The worrying rise of UK households struggling to earn a decent living
[39:03] – Small caps comeback? Fund manager Richard Penny shares his signs of recovery

Investing in weight-loss drugs, and why everyone’s talking about student loans

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, how financial markets reacted to speculation around the future of Keir Starmer as UK prime minister. [02:00] 

Dan Coatsworth and Tom Sieber unpack the latest results from Shell, BP and Barclays. [05:05] 

AI has haunted parts of the stock market once again, with financial comparison websites and insurance brokers the latest victims as investors fear major disruption to their business. [11:12] 

There was some remarkable news in the pharmaceutical space as Novo Nordisk battled Him & Her’s amid controversy around the launch of copycat weight-loss drugs. The pod team explore the weight loss drug space in more detail and explain why one analyst thinks Greggs is a major loser as people slim down. [15:05] 

Dan talks to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare about how Eli Lilly has scored the top slot in the weight-loss drug market [24:13]. Martin Gamble chats to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investment about other names to watch in this space. [30:13] 

Charlene Young is on the show to explain why everyone’s talking about student loans. [33:00] 

Finally, Danni Hewson talks to Pathos Communications about its experiences of listing on the UK stock market and the use of AI in the public relations industry. [45:32] 

Space X buys Xai, a new boss for Disney and why NS&I premium bonds are so popular

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laura Suter dig into what has been another action-packed week with Space X buying fellow Elon Musk vehicle Xai ahead of the companies anticipated IPO [01:32]. Danni checks out why Anthropic’s new AI tools resulted in a global sell off in companies like Sage, Pearson and Legal Star [06:33]. Disney delivered a crowd-pleasing update, but it was all about the exit of CEO Bob Seager and whether this handover will be smoother than the last [10:16]. Plus, Walmart becomes the first retailer to hit a $1 trillion dollar valuation [13:54] and gold and silver prices fall back after Donald Trump unveils his pick for the Fed [16:43].

There’s plenty to go at on the personal finance front with Santander becoming the biggest lender to offer a mortgage with just a 2% deposit for first time buyers [20:46], but new data shows one in three of those taking their first steps on the housing ladder are doing it with a 25% deposit [18:32]. Plus, an estimated 1 million people have missed the self-assessment tax return deadline. [24:59]

We’ve got two guest interviews this week, first with Andrew Westhead, retail director at NS&I, about what makes premium bonds the most popular savings product in the UK [29:56]. And with Kier Starmer becoming the latest world leader to thaw relations with China, Chris Tennant from Fidelity Emerging Markets discusses if that makes China more investible and the allure of companies like TSMC benefiting from the AI boom [44:31].

Investment Trust Show: Getting rich from healthcare

Welcome to the monthly bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts, presented by Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford. 

The pair discuss the outlook for activist investors in the investment trust space, the extent to which Saba is involved in the industry, and who could be the next targets. [02:05] 

Dan talks to Ed Cartright, CEO of Arcus Investment, about a desire to replace the manager at Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon and take over running the trust. [15:13] 

This episode’s big theme is the healthcare space [25:37]. Dan talks to Gareth Powell from Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust about why the sector disappointed for several years and has now burst back to life; as well as the underappreciated importance of generic drugs. 

Martin Gamble talks to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investments about why big drug companies are buying small biotech firms. 

Dan also chats to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare on how pharma companies have effectively been forced to invest heavily in the US to avoid tariffs; why Donald Trump has launched a website so consumers can buy medicines direct from manufacturers; and the outlook for drug pricing globally.  

Finally, Hannah interviews Carlos Hardenberg from the Mobius Investment Trust about dealing with political turmoil in emerging markets, and how he safeguards his investments from it. [49:37] 

Download AJ Bell’s free report on activists in the investment trust space: https://www.ajbell.co.uk/investment/investment-trust-report

Gold glitters, rates loom and Ryanair costs rise

Charlene Young and Danni Hewson are your hosts in a week where gold and silver continue to take centre stage, with new data highlighting gold’s status as the ultimate safe haven over the last decade (04:15). Danni runs though the latest business and travel news, including pub business rate relief, Boeing picks up its aircraft deliveries, higher fares at Ryanair and the impact of US storms on airlines (09:15). Attention then turns to the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and why President Trump’s upcoming pick for the next Fed chair could be just as market-moving (21:15).

In Pensions Corner, we are joined by AJ Bell’s Rachel Vahey to discuss changes to when you can access your own pensions and claim, the state pension plus the latest on the government’s review of WASPI compensation (25:00). Charlene brings you updates on NS&I cutting savings rates again (32:30), and reveals new stats on what really happens when Junior ISA holders turn 18 (35:20).

Buy and sell ratings on stocks: do they ever work?

This episode of the AJ Money & Markets podcast explores the world of shares, pensions, property, wills, and much more. 

Dan Coatsworth examines how financial markets have reacted to Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland. Gold is closing in on $5,000 per ounce as investors seek assets that have historically protected people in tough times. [03:21] 

We’ve just had the second FTSE 100 takeover bid of 2026, and we’re only weeks into the new year. Dan talks about the bid for Beazley, and the downside if it disappears from the UK stock market. [07:16] 

When the pensions lifetime allowance was abolished in 2024, it created a myth that age 75 no longer matters in the world of pensions. Charlene Young explains why 75 is still incredibly important. [08:53] 

Discover how much first-time buyers need for a 10% deposit on a home in different parts of the country, and what the latest inflation figures mean for the direction of interest rates and mortgages in 2026. [14:08] 

It’s important to have a will so your assets go to the people of your choice when you die, but lawyers are now saying certain wills might be invalid. Charlene reveals all. [19:08] 

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould talks to Dan about what buy, hold, sell ratings on shares really mean, how they’re created, and which UK stocks have the most or least of certain types of ratings. [25:13] 

Finally, Danni Hewson talks to James Flintoft from AJ Bell’s investments team about how AJ Bell funds performed last year and his thoughts on the year ahead. [35:14]