AJ Bell Money & Markets

ChatGPT goes public: what the OpenAI IPO means for investors

In this week's episode, Tom Sieber and Charlene Young digest the latest market developments from both sides of the Atlantic, with the company behind ChatGPT unveiling IPO plans, GSK unveiling its biggest deal in a decade and a UK market stalwart getting snapped up. Plus, as the World Cup gets underway, Tom discusses the winners off the pitch.

Charlene talks us through changes to inheritance rules which could affect cohabiting couples and the things people should think about when passing on wealth to family and dependents. Tom reveals what readers of the latest free monthly Shares magazine can expect including the next phase of the AI story and how Netflix is looking to grow after missing out on acquiring Warner Bros.

Finally, Charlene discusses plans to broaden access to mortgages in the UK and what they might mean for the property market and Tom and Charlene discuss some interesting new stats on pocket money.

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Markets: ChatGPT IPO, GSK's biggest deal in a decade & a UK takeover

16:19 Inheritance rules: cohabiting couples & passing on wealth

22:30 Shares magazine: AI's next phase & Netflix's growth plans

26:17 UK mortgage access & pocket money stats

The £800,000 cost of a decent retirement

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young is joined by new co-host Sarah Coles alongside Tom Sieber to unpack a busy week across markets, tech and personal finance. With geopolitical tensions continuing to weigh on sentiment, the team looks at whether investors are stuck in a holding pattern or if there are more subtle shifts happening beneath the surface.

There’s also a deep dive into the latest surge in AI excitement, from a major potential Anthropic IPO to huge fundraising moves by Google parent Alphabet, with takeover chatter in sectors like aviation and renewables.

The new Retirement Living Standards are out, showing how inflation is upping the cost of even a modest lifestyle in retirement. Sarah and Charlene also talk about fresh savings and lending data from the Bank of England, and what’s really happening in the UK housing market. The episode concludes with Dan Coatsworth sitting down with Richard Jeffery, executive chair of Reading based firm ActiveOps to find out how AI is central to what they do.

In this episode:

• Market update: geopolitics, oil and investor sentiment [01:46]
• AI boom: Anthropic IPO and Alphabet’s $80bn raise [04:06]
• Company news: EasyJet, Drax and defensive stocks that have disappointed [09:15]
• Retirement Living Standards: how much you really need [13:56]
• Savings & borrowing: latest Bank of England data [29:29]
• Housing market outlook and mortgage trends [31:46]
• Interview: Richard Jeffery, executive chair of ActiveOps [38:25]

Investment Trust Show: How trusts stack up against fund siblings

This month, the Investment Trust Show focuses in on what makes trusts so unique: from gearing to boards. Hannah Williford and Dan Coatsworth discuss the pros and cons before seeing how they measure up against their sister funds through the numbers. Nick Britton from the Association of Investment Companies joins to explain where the differences emerge.
AJ Bell’s Tom Sieber also steps in to interview Utilico Emerging Markets chair Mark Bridgeman to understand what role a board is really playing. Then, two funds investing in private equity, Seraphim Space Investment Trust and ICG, discuss where opportunity lies off the market, and how Seraphim has grown its share price by over 300% in a year.

00:00 Introduction: What makes investment trusts unique

04:30 What does a trust board actually do? (Tom Sieber & Mark Bridgeman)

19:00 Investment trusts vs funds: Who wins? (Nick Britton, AIC)

33:20 Private equity explained: Inside ICG Enterprise Trust (ICG Colm Walsh)

47:45 Space & defence boom: Seraphim Investment Trust (Mark Bogget)

01:06:45 Outro & key takeaways

More turmoil for BP as new chairman is ousted

Less than a year after joining as BP Chairman Albert Manifold has been removed from the company. What does it mean for BP’s turnaround plans is the question that kicks off this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast and Danni Hewson and Tom Sieber assess how investors reacted to the news [02:18]. Concerns over Middle East peace talks has seen choppy trade in oil and the price of energy has been in the spotlight as the UK’s new price cap was announced [07:30]. Temperatures might have soared over the late May bank holiday, but B&Q says a late start to spring dented sales and weak consumer spend also took a chunk out of Pets at Home’s full year profits [13:45] plus Ferrari’s first EV has provoked some extreme reaction on social media [23:28]. On the personal finance front, Rachel Vahey is back with another pensions corner, this time chatting about a worrying report from the Pensions Commission which found 15 million people are under saving for retirement [27:15] plus former PM Rishi Sunak’s warned that 4 in 10 Brits lack basic financial literacy with calls for more education to help people make smart financial choices [38:08]. And our guest interview this week is with Andrew Lapping, chief investment officer at Ranmore Fund Management; he’s spoken to Dan about why he’s still a fan of Greggs [44:33].

The £131m cost of the M&S cyber attack

Cyber shocks, political ripples and pop-powered spending – it’s another packed week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. Charlene Young and Danni Hewson break down the latest inflation and jobs data, before turning to bond market jitters as political drama heats up.

There’s pressure building for businesses too, as Ryanair flags rising fuel costs, and Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover lay bare the growing financial toll of cyber attacks. We also dive into the forces reshaping what was formerly the UK high street, with more big banking brands on brink of disappearing completely, and unpack what a potential mansion tax could mean for homeowners.

Plus, two insightful interviews: one exploring how supply chains are becoming a major investment theme, and another on the critical mineral antimony as surging demand drives the reopening of an Australian mine. And to finish, we move from hard economics to headline acts, and look at how Harry Styles’ Wembley run could generate over £1bn in spending, proving the experience economy is alive and well.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:46] Inflation & jobs – what the latest data tells us

[09:35] Gilts, politics & the Makerfield by-election ripple effect

[12:10] Ryanair warns on rising oil prices [

15:26] M&S & JLR – counting the cost of cyber attacks

[21:39] Interview: Supply chains with Jamie Mills O’Brien (Aberdeen)

[34:13] Bank brands that are set to disappear – Halifax rumours & TSB confirmed changes

[36:39] Mansion tax consultation – what’s on the table

[40:44] The £1.1bn Harry Styles effect

[45:07] Interview: Antimony & critical minerals with Ron Heeks (Larvotto Resources)

[54:13] Closing thoughts

Deep Dive #9: Why everyone should care about investment income

In this Deep Dive episode, Tom Sieber and Danni Hewson take a closer look at income investing. Experts from AJ Bell and Jupiter Asset Management join the podcast to discuss common dividend mistakes investors make, the power of compounding and dividend reinvestment, getting income from Asia and how to generate cash through property, infrastructure, and bonds.

00:08 – Introduction: Tom Sieber and Danni Hewson introduce the episode and the evolving world of income.
02:10 – Why people invest for income and the power of compounding.
06:50 – Dividend basics: Tom Sieber explains some of the key points every investor should understand.
09:40 – Danni Hewson looks at share buybacks vs dividends and current UK trends.
17:56 – Tom Sieber then frames the debate around dividend yield vs dividend growth and why you might look for the latter over the former.
23:39 – AJ Bell head of markets Dan Coatsworth joins to talk about common dividend investing mistakes.
30:57 – AJ Bell fund and investment trust writer Eve Maddock-Jones delves into the world of income funds and trusts and the advantages of diversification.
34:45 – Tom talks to Jupiter Asian Income fund manager about why he thinks the region can be a fruitful source of income and growth.
48:34 – Tom explains how you can also derive income from the financial markets through property funds, infrastructure, and bonds.
55:33 – Tom talks to Paul Angell about the role of bonds in an income portfolio.
01:11:36– Tom and Danni wrap up with the key takeaways from the episode including what they’ve learned about income investing.

The scary link between politics, oil and your bills

Join Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young in the latest edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. This week, we delve into the impact of politics on financial markets, focusing on UK government bond yields and the concept of 'bond vigilantes'.

Charlene discusses why age 28 is a critical financial year for women, leading to significant pension disparities. We also explore a new report highlighting the risk of pension poverty for 12.2 million UK adults and what can be done to mitigate this issue.

Special guest Sarah Willingham, former Dragon's Den judge and now CEO of bars group Nightcap, shares her insights on the challenges facing the hospitality sector. Plus, we revisit some of the success stories from Dragon's Den.

Dan also talks to Joe Winkley from Winterflood Securities about why retail investors are starting to have greater opportunities to support company growth plans.

Tune in for a comprehensive look at these pressing financial topics and more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest episodes.

0:09 – Impact of politics on financial markets and the power of ‘bond vigilantes’

12:06 – Greggs goes to Tenerife

14:35 – Age 28: Financial crunch year for women

24:10 – Risk of pension poverty for 12.2 million UK adults

28:23 – Interview with Sarah Willingham from Nightcap

50:59 – Business winners and losers from Dragon’s Den TV show

54:12 – Tom Sieber on the new issue of Shares magazine

56:25 – Opportunities for retail investors to support company fundraisings

Cash ISAs are booming: why savers are piling in

Geopolitics is back in the driving seat for markets as Middle East tensions shake energy prices, government borrowing costs climb and investors revisit whether ‘quality’ shares are due a comeback. We cover the latest updates from Next, Novo Nordisk, HSBC and Diageo, and we speak to Hugh Yarrow of Evenlode Income on why sticking with quality businesses can pay off. Plus on the personal finance side: why cash ISA deposits keep rising, and the everyday luxuries people refuse to give up.

 

Timestamps:

[01:19] Geopolitics and markets: Iran/Middle East developments 

[03:44] Government borrowing costs: what’s driving yields higher 

[06:29] Next’s latest results

[09:56] Novo Nordisk and weight-loss drugs 

[11:50] HSBC’s profits fall 

[13:17] Diageo’s World Cup boost 

[17:27] Interview: Hugh Yarrow (Evenlode Income) on investing in quality companies 

[33:08] Fuel watch: the impact of oil-market tensions 

[36:57] Cash ISAs soar in popularity

[44:23] Cost-of-living: the ‘luxuries’ people won’t give up

Investment Trust Show: Finding income in unexpected places

In this episode of the investment trust show, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford explore the trusts offering generous income to investors, the state of US markets and the changes happening to the renewable infrastructure sector. Plus, AJ Bell’s own Eve Maddock-Jones joins for a chat on what you need to know if your trust is winding up.  

[01:24] Hannah and Eve talk about the latest news in trust windups, and what investors need to be prepared for if theirs is on the chopping block. 

[10:03] Dan speaks to Felise Agranoff from JP Morgan American Trust about the sentiment surrounding the US in the midst of the US-Iran War.  

[24:51] Jeremiah Buckley from North American Income Trust joins Hannah for a second US perspective, and talks about why getting dividends from US companies is an underrated approach for investors.  

[38:11] Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler talks to Dan about finding income in unexpected areas of the market, and why investors are needing to get creative with where they look. 

[54:19] FGEN’s Charlie Wright rounds off the pod speaking about the state of the renewable energy infrastructure sector, where many trusts are rotating away from their dividend-paying roots.  

Cathie Wood: How to invest for 2026

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, the Bank of England’s latest rate decision, Big Tech updates from Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet, and what the UAE’s exit from OPEC could mean for oil prices as Brent crude climbs.

Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss BP’s bumper first‑quarter profits and Shell’s $16bn bid for Arc Resources, weak underlying UK retail sales, and the collapse of Claire’s Accessories. Dan also explores why several UK-listed companies have recently fallen into administration.

Dan talks to Morningstar’s Grant Slade about mounting political uncertainty ahead of the 7 May local elections and what a change in prime minister could mean for the economy and financial markets. The pod team also debate whether buy‑to‑let still makes sense under the new Renters’ Rights Act.

This week’s big interview features investing heavyweight Cathie Wood from Ark Invest who shares her 2026 outlook, including why she’s buying Tesla, selling AMD and remains relaxed about OpenAI’s latest setback.

00:00 Bank of England interest rate decision

 

00:50 Big Tech earnings: Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet

 

03:03 Oil prices rise as UAE exits OPEC

 

09:18 BP Q1 profits and Shell’s Arc Resources bid

 

16:58 UK retail sales slowdown and Claire’s collapse

 

21:04 Why UK‑listed companies are entering administration

 

24:02 Grant Slade on local elections, politics and market uncertainty

 

38:53 Buy‑to‑let and the new Renters’ Rights Act

 

43:16 Cathie Wood on Tesla, AMD and OpenAI