AJ Bell Money & Markets

Japan index at 33-year high, US debt ceiling fears, cracks in the luxury goods market

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.

The good, bad and the ugly of earnings season, plus calls for “One ISA” and the 100% mortgage aimed at renters

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.

Economic impact of the coronation and the pros and cons of changing the listing rules for UK companies

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.

Big tech, big brands and a clampdown on fake reviews

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.

Takeovers, cash rate war, finfluencers, Netflix disappointment and investing in Japan

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.

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.