Merryn Talks Money UK IPOs Have Dried Up, US Tech Booms, and Japan’s Surprise Rally
Oct 3, 2025
London has fallen out of the top 20 global IPO markets, with a sharp decline in activity and concerns for its financial ecosystem. Meanwhile, US tech stocks are surging amidst bubble worries, contrasting with the UK’s focus on value. Japan is experiencing a market comeback with renewed investor interest, hinting at a cultural shift toward equities. The hosts also debate whether savers should consider shifts into euros or gold to mitigate risks from inflation and currency fluctuations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Consider Gold Over Chasing Euros
- Don't automatically move cash from pounds to euros during a sterling downturn.
- Consider gold as a hedge because multiple currencies can devalue simultaneously and gold has risen strongly this year.
Listener From Turkey Adopted A Gold-Heavy Portfolio
- Merryn recounts listener feedback about currency moves and a Turkish teacher shifting to gold and equities to protect against inflation.
- She highlights the 'Turkish portfolio' idea of roughly half gold and half equities as an inflation hedge.
UK IPO Market Has Collapsed
- London has fallen to 23rd by IPO activity, trailing many smaller markets and frontier economies.
- Merryn and John warn the UK's market shrinkage weakens the broader finance ecosystem and is becoming urgent.