AJ Bell Money & Markets

Fund manager views on banking crisis, IMF’s bleak forecast and a pension boost for grandparents

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. 

Opec cuts, Credit Suisse says sorry and whilst Virgin Orbit goes up for sale Cineworld is off the market

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.

Pocket money trends, US tech bounce-back, savers and investors braced for big tax changes

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.

Banking crisis, Man Utd sale, savings rates to rise and new pension rules explained

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.

Banking blues and budget bonanzas

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.

The investment plan to cover university costs, why a tax-free childcare scheme has flopped, and reasons behind the share price rally in Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Premier Foods

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.

Market rally fizzles, supermarket price wars, energy bill warning and Musk back on top

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.

Rate rise worries are back, why shares in UK banks were hit and thoughts on the market from Alliance Trust

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.

Inflation double whammy, Barclays disappoints, Premium Bond boost and investor stories

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.

FTSE highs, BP profits soar, taxman’s pension raid and how popular songs can boost your investment pot

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.