AJ Bell Money & Markets

Scottish Mortgage fund manager grilled, investors react to new UK Prime Minister, and FTSE 100 stocks with best dividend yields

The podcast returns from the summer break with special guest Lawrence Burns, deputy manager of Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. He reveals to Danni Hewson the lessons learned from previous experiences in China, why Moderna has become a big portfolio holding, and his views on the current state of the market.

Dan Coatsworth runs through the market reaction to Liz Truss becoming UK Prime Minister and why retail stocks enjoyed a big bounce on the day. He also explains why one investment bank says H&M could be a big loser in a recession and why JD Sports could be a winner.

Best buy cash savings accounts are now offering interest rates comparable to the yield on the FTSE 100 stock index, meaning investors might start to look more closely at shares offering above-average yields. Steve Frazer chats about the top yielding stocks on the UK market, why some of their income streams are unsustainable, while Dan runs through the golden rules to follow with dividends.

Danni has a great story about how it might be cheaper to go on a cruise than stay at home. She also has some good news for anyone who lives in a more remote location that lacks banking facilities.

BP, buybacks, banking results, bumper borrowing and big recession worries

This week we’re delving into those BP results that have caused so much debate. Plus Russ Mould joins us to look at share buybacks and dividends across the FTSE 100, as the oil giant announced another round of buybacks and a hike to its dividend. 

Also this week, Laith Khalaf studies the figures from UK banks in the face of the cost of living crisis, following a wave of second-quarter results in the sector. Which leads us neatly onto some startling new data Laura Suter has about how households are coping financially with the cost of living crisis. We also look at the risk of recession in the US, after data showed the economy has shrunk again. 

Elsewhere, we’re talking about a big change the regulator has made to the way financial services work in the UK, with our pensions and regulation guru Tom Selby on to discuss what that means for investors.

And just a note that after this episode, the podcast will be on summer break until September. So we’ll see you in a month!

Earnings season winners and losers, bond market struggles, and how man stacks up against machine when picking investments

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast, Laura Suter and Danni Hewson discuss earnings season as it kicks into high gear. They sift through winners including McDonalds, Coca Cola and Unilever, and losers including Walmart – whose profit warning sent a shock through the US and UK retail sector. They also look at upcoming rate rises, which are forming an important backdrop to inflation-wary company outlooks.

Also this week, Ryan Hughes from AJ Bell’s investment team takes a look at why bond markets haven’t been performing well. Bonds aren’t necessarily the sexiest corner of investing – but with predictions of a potential recession mounting, and markets becoming more volatile, people might be seeking more safe-haven assets. 

Elsewhere, Laith Khalaf, our head of investment analysis, digs into an age-old question. During tricky market times is it better to invest with a human fund manager who makes stock picks for you, or a tracker that rides the market’s ups and downs?

Finally, Dan Coatsworth meets up with Jeremy Rogers from the Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust, set up two years ago with the goal of helping society and making money for investors. He asks where the trust is deploying its money, and what investors might expect from it in the future.

It’s all about inflation as UK CPI hits another 40-year high

On this week’s Money and Markets, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson brave the heat not only of the UK weather, but UK inflation too. With CPI coming in over expectation at 9.4%, they sum up how markets are reacting, and discuss where interest rates could sit by the end of the year. With rising costs causing issues for companies, they also dig into a new report showing a 66% increase in profit warnings from UK listed companies in the first half of 2022 – including Direct Line and Made.com.

Earnings season is in full swing, and inflation’s colouring everything from the big GSK spin-off Haleon to another dip in subscriber numbers for Netflix – though with its fall smaller than expected, investors were pleasantly surprised.

Also, employee pay is the only game in town – with warnings that a summer of discontent is on the cards, as more unions ballot on strike action. Plus, commercial property is meant to be one of the ultimate inflation-protected investments – meaning lots of investors might be thinking about diving into the market at the moment. Laura caught up with Roger Clarke, from property stock exchange IPSX, to see how the market has rebounded post pandemic and whether that inflation-protection is going to hold true in the coming year.

Best deals on cash, how Ruffer protected investors’ money and cracks in the inflation story

Potential returns on cash savings accounts are now much more interesting, so don’t miss this episode of the Money & Markets podcast to find out the best deals around.

Dan Coatsworth talks to Duncan MacInnes about how Ruffer Investment Company not only bucked the negative market trend in the first half of 2022 but also generated positive returns for investors.

MacInnes explains why he believes the bear market isn’t over yet and how gold is an ‘unreliable girlfriend’. 

Discover why falling commodity prices could mark the turning point in the inflation story, and how shares in the big mining companies have lost all the gains made earlier this year.

Rising energy costs are changing the way we spend money, and Laura Suter looks at the latest spending habits and what might come next.

What’s hitting the new Chancellor’s to-do list, UK growth fears, pound falls and outlook for UK banks

This week Laura Suter and Danni Hewson bring you an update on the economic fallout from this week’s turmoil in Westminster, looking at various warnings from the Bank of England and the pound’s fall. We delve into what the new Chancellor might tackle in his economic update next week, after Nadhim Zahawi committed himself as a tax cutting chancellor.

In the markets news we’ve got the latest updates and rows from supermarkets, some positive news from food delivery companies JustEat and Grubhub and an update on US/China tariff war.

And Dan Coatsworth has been chatting to fund manager Laura Foll, who helps run Lowland, Henderson Opportunities Trust and Law Debenture investment trusts, all about the outlook for UK banks, which are much loved by many investors.

Miners, defence stocks and the return of the pension triple lock

On this week’s Money & Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson take a look at what has been another bumpy week for markets with a commodities rally not able to deliver the big market comeback some investors had been rather hoping for.

They look at what’s behind the defence stock bounce, boosting the likes of BAE Systems and Rolls Royce and how utility companies like SSE have responded to Ofgem’s new distribution price control proposals. Plus, Dan is chatting to the Fund manager of Odyssean, one of the few investment trusts not to have lost a lot of money this year, and on the menu are Chemring, Videndum, Stabilus and Spire Healthcare. 

There is also a new boss for Whitbread, and we discuss why the battle for high street chemist Boots ended with it being taken off the market by US owner WBA, for now.  With a drop in scratch card sales, we also look at why the government’s green savings bond has flopped and Tom Selby brings us up to date on plans for the pension triple lock.

Money budgeting tools, why takeovers aren’t always good news, and important things to consider before drawing on your pension

This week’s podcast has plenty of useful tips for managing your money, as well as important insight into what’s happening on stock markets and with cryptocurrencies.

Dan Coatsworth explains why Primark’s click and collect trial is important news for anyone owning shares in Associated British Foods.

He also explores the latest wave of takeovers on the UK stock market and why they aren’t necessarily reasons to be cheerful. Dan also reveals why one fund manager thinks now’s the time to sell shares in oil producer Shell.

Also, Laura Suter explains the latest developments in the buy now, pay later space, and discusses some of the most useful budgeting tools to help get your finances in shape.

Finally, Tom Selby is on the show to discuss the key points someone in their mid-60s should consider before dipping into their pension

Ahead of the Fed

On this week’s money and markets podcast Danni Hewson and Tom Sieber from Shares magazine discuss market jitters ahead of the Fed’s latest rate rise. Plus big questions for the bank of England to process as job vacancies continue to soar and inflation takes a chunk out of wage growth.

Tom Selby AJ Bell’s head of retirement policy looks at the impact the global meltdown’s having on pensions and how soaring inflation combined with market falls risk having dramatic impact on the retirement prospects of savers in drawdown.

Dan Coatsworth has been talking to Ayush Abhijeet who helps to manage the Ashoka India investment trust about what patient investors can get out of India and sticking with global markets Danni and Tom discuss why Netflix has pinned its hopes on a Squid Games reality show and how a Korean boyband made Asian markets tremble. All that and a mad money story with Jenny Owen about a late library fee that’s topped six thousand pounds.

Jubilees, confidence votes and airport chaos

On this week’s Money and Markets, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson canter through the market movements over the last week – which, despite being shorter thanks to the Jubilee bank holiday, was no less eventual. They look at market reaction to all the political intrigue at Westminster, and assess how the travel sector is faring after disappointment and disarray at UK airports over the half-term break.

There’s been another flurry of merger and acquisition activity – from the bid for bin business Biffa, to disappointment for Ted Baker after its preferred bidder walked away. Dan digs into Apple’s moves to enter the buy now pay later space, and Danni has yet another Twitter update, with Elon Musk indicating he’s serious about walking away from the deal.

Also, Laura Suter’s finds out when you should get a will and how to go about it, chatting with partner at Taylor Bracewell solicitors, Lauren Smith, about why so many people put it off. And as the price of filling up the tank of a family car surges past £100 for the first time, we talk petrol prices and why so many landlords are leaving the private rental market.