AJ Bell Money & Markets

Twitter, tech and outlook warnings

On this week’s Money & Markets, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson pull apart Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover plans. We look into his plans to pay for the platform, what he wants to do with it, and shareholder concern that Musk may be forced to sell some of his stake to finance his new venture. And looking over the first updates from ‘MAMAA’ stocks, we find it’s a mixed bag, with a sting in the outlook.

With markets volatile over concern about more China lockdowns, Dan discusses investing in Asia. He casts his eye over Vietnam Holding – the fourth-best performing investment trust of all geographies, sectors and styles in 2021. And he gets the lowdown from Craig Martin, chairman of Dynam Capital, which makes all the portfolio decisions from the Trust.

Also this week: Tom Selby hosts pensions corner – about the state pension, and when and how you qualify for pension credit. Plus, with another survey showing people are cutting back on their personal spend, should we actually be bullish about the retail sector long term?

AJ Bell’s plans to make investing a Dodl, Netflix’s big problems, pros and cons of share buybacks, and exploring the world of private equity

Laura Suter talks to Emma Keywood about why AJ Bell has launched a new investment app called Dodl and how it might help people getting started with stocks and funds.

Dan Coatsworth debates the problems facing Netflix and what it needs to do next. He also chats to Steven Tredget from Oakley Capital about the world of private equity and why more people are interested in this part of the investment universe.

Laura gives some money-saving tips for travel fans, while AJ Bell’s Russ Mould joins the show to talk about the pros and cons of share buybacks.

Inflation hits another high, retail reaction to rising prices, and spotting small company gems

On this week’s podcast we’ve got the latest inflation data, with Laura and Danni explaining what it means for us all. We also look at how companies are handling rising prices, from Tesco’s aisles to Asos’s online orders.

Danni has the latest on another U-turn in the Elon Musk Twitter saga, and we check in on how the Easter travel chaos is panning out.

We’ve also got two fund manager interviews for you. First, Danni chats to infrastructure investments specialist Giles Frost, at International Public Partnerships Infrastructure investment trust, about how his sector could be ideal in a high inflation world. And Dan talks to small companies pro Paul Marriage, from Tellworth, about how to spot the next big thing.

Finally, Jenny Owen discusses people getting chips under their skin so they can pay for goods in shops using just their hands. 

Musk moves on Twitter, timing the market, and could bitcoin ever rival gold as a safe haven?

On this week’s Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss Elon Musk’s newly acquired stake in Twitter and whether his appointment to the board will result in more changes than just an edit button. Dan digs into Moonpig’s uplift to its revenue outlook and Danni wonders who might be in the market for occasion wear retailer Ted Baker. 

The team also discuss the week’s volatility, with markets spooked by more Russia sanctions being on the table, and comments from Fed chair Lael Brainard that stronger action might be needed to curb US inflation. Laura Suter chats to Simon Stickney from Collidr about whether you can ever actually time the market, and we hear from Adrian Ash from BullionVault about whether gold is still the go-to safe haven, or if investors are looking at Bitcoin as an alternative. And on the subject of gold, Jenny Owen tells us how the Royal Mint’s looking to turn your old phone into the shiny stuff.

Markets bounce on peace talks, bumper savings rate launches, and the real cost of those tax cuts

This week, Laith Khalaf brings us the latest markets news, including markets bouncing on potential Ukraine peace talks and Barclays taking a £450m hit to profits. Laith and Laura Suter also crunch the numbers on how much Rishi Sunak’s tax changes are actually going to cost you over the next few years.

We also discuss Neil Woodford’s former protégé Mark Barnett making a return to fund management, after a year out. And Laura looks at a new savings account that actually pays an interest rate above 1% – but there’s a catch.

Also on this episode, Dan Coatsworth has an interview about how the energy price cap and Russia/Ukraine crisis has impacted the energy industry.

And finally, Laura and Tom Selby have a Lifetime ISA special, answering all of your questions about the end of the tax year. 

What the Spring Statement means for your finances, expert tax tips, and London’s fight to attract more companies to its stock market

Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth give their reactions to Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement, including the potential winners and losers from his announcement. Consumers, pensioners and businesses are all affected.

Dan has good news for investors who remained patient throughout the recent global stock market sell-off, while Laura Suter gets some tips from RSM tax director Kate Aitchison on understanding HMRC’s tax rules and where people often get caught out.

And Neil Shah from Edison Research is on the podcast to talk about the challenges facing London as the preferred destination for companies floating on the stock market.

War and covid unsettle markets plus your ISA questions answered

On this week’s Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson is joined by Tom Sieber from Shares to discuss another volatile week for markets – facing not just the situation in Ukraine but another Covid lockdown in China. Tom explains the moves made by the Chinese government after shares tumbled in response, and Danni examines what’s going on with the oil price as various governments seek to shore up security of supply.

As fuel prices rise at the pump, many motorists might be thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle.  The boss of one charging company has suggested the switch will bring about the end of petrol stations as we know them. To find out more about the opportunities this may bring, Danni catches up with Andrew Jones, CEO of London Metric Property PLC, which is taking major steps forward when it comes to installing charging points on their properties, particularly their retail parks.

And as the new tax year rushes towards us, our Head of Personal Finance Laura Suter and AJ Bell YouInvest’s pensions and savings expert Charlene Young get together to answer all of your ISA questions.

How the war in Ukraine could impact UK household finances, companies halting business in Russia, and everything you need to know about the metaverse

This week’s podcast explores how the latest events in Ukraine have moved global stock markets and how the war will have a big impact on the cost of living in the UK.

Dan Coatsworth chats about some of the companies on the UK market which you might not realise have exposure to Russia. And Danni Hewson also talks to Neil Shah from Edison Research about companies severing ties with Russia.

The podcast also explores the metaverse – Dan interviews Zehrid Osmani about this buzzword and how he's playing the theme via the Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust.

Finally, Laura Suter chats about Post Office accounts and how to beat forthcoming changes to dividend tax.

Markets react to Ukraine invasion

On this week’s Money and Markets podcast, Danni Hewson looks at how markets have reacted to the invasion of Ukraine, as company after company severs ties with Russia and sanctions begin to take effect. Laith Khalaf focuses on the suspension of many Russian-exposed funds and what that means if you’re invested, and he’s also been tracking the surge in value of crypto currency, plus calls for a ban on Russian transactions.

With stock market volatility making some people nervous about their pensions, Tom Selby chats through what those ups and downs might really mean for the average pension holder, and he also answers another pensions’ corner question from a listener who spent a number of years living and working in Ukraine and wonders if that time might count towards their UK state pension.

Plus, Dan Coatsworth has been talking to Chris McVey from Octopus Multi Cap UK Income fund, the best-performing UK equity income fund over the last three years. Chris explains why they’ve got a real bias towards small and mid-cap stocks. And with so much desperately awful news around, we’ve got Jenny Owen to bring us a touch of light relief at the end of the pod with a potted history of Cadbury’s Freddo Frog and its changing price tag.

Investors focus on Ukraine

On Money and Markets this week Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson assess what the situation in Ukraine could mean for markets, from soaring oil to falling share prices – as investors figure out which sectors stand to lose from increased sanctions. 

We also assess the latest financial updates from UK banks, and Dan chats to Neil Shelton from GXO – a huge name in global logistics – about all those supply chain issues we’ve heard so much about. 

You’ll learn how can you make money from music if you’re not a talented musician, as Paul Flood from Newton Investment management joins Danni to talk streaming and where investors can find opportunities. 

We also look at why house prices have jumped by the biggest amount in over 20 years despite rising interest rates. And Laura Suter catches up with Stephen Holiday, the boss of financial app Level, who thinks your employer might be able to help you with your saving goals.