Wake Up to Money

Shelley Ann Horne, an economist at S&W; Obi Jukwemi, a global equities fund manager at Carmignac; and Carleen Jackson, CEO of Cloud9 Insight, examine the AI-fuelled tech sell-off and the future of data centres. They discuss the Bank of England’s 4% rate rise, salary transparency, aviation bomb hoaxes and strained airline profits. Leicester retailers also share how Diwali is shaping business on the Golden Mile.

Spencer Lam, chief executive of UK data-centre operator KOData, discusses the backlash against AI infrastructure in the US and why the UK faces a different planning challenge. They explore brownfield sites, local jobs, community support and responsible growth. The conversation also covers interest rates, housing pressures and how AI is reshaping careers in graphic design.

Andy Uhler, a Marketplace and University of Texas business and energy journalist, joins Republican strategist Amy Friedrichson and former Obama speechwriter Sarada Perry to unpack a dramatic US midterm result. They explore voter frustration over living costs, Trump’s influence, the rise of authentic candidates, and tougher technology and energy regulation. Plus, Poundland’s founders discuss the retailer’s uncertain future amid inflation and fierce competition.

Joe Corson, Institute of Customer Service chief, and Sunil Krishnan, Aviva Investors’ multi-asset investing chief, discuss who should benefit from Britain’s data-centre boom and a potential UK-EU food trade deal. They examine hacked smart fridges, supply-chain resilience, Apple’s strong iPhone results, rising memory costs and its plans to monetise AI. Plus, the political stakes of America’s midterm elections.

Laura Lambie, senior investment director at Rathbones, explores inflation, interest rates, data-centre backlash and broadband’s mounting pressures. Miles Jacobson, Studio director at Sports Interactive, takes us behind Football Manager’s renewed focus on immersion, its vast scouting database and his memorable Watford save. Plus, the US midterms, telecom job cuts and the fight to fund reliable internet.

Nicola Smith, policy director at the Trades Union Congress, discusses expanded union access and new anti-harassment duties. Economist Linda Yu examines squeezed living standards, welfare pressures and jittery AI markets. Hospitality director Louise McLean weighs Halloween’s spending boost against Budget pressures. Plus, a crypto heist and a pumpkin farm’s smashing recovery after storm damage.

Amanda Tickell, Deloitte’s head of tax policy, and Simon French, Panmure Liberum’s chief economist, dissect a quiet but consequential Budget. They explore tax rises, frozen thresholds, growth, household finances, landlords leaving the rental market and the uncertain impact of energy support. Business leaders weigh investment challenges, while Microsoft and Google’s results reveal shifting investor confidence in AI and tech.

Catherine McLeod, former political journalist and adviser to Alistair Darling, reveals the secrecy and high-stakes negotiations behind budget day. David Hall, Brita UK’s managing director, discusses consumer confidence, energy costs, sustainability and employment pressures. Experts examine tax choices, fiscal rules, welfare and mortgages, while Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or win boosts his commercial appeal to brands.

Jill Rutter, a former senior civil servant, assesses the government’s cost-of-living “everyday fixes” and possible minimum-wage changes. John Webber, Colliers’ business-rates specialist, explores mounting pressure on hospitality. Chaiiwala co-founder Abdul Perani discusses rising food, energy and wage costs, while investment manager Catherine Hannan covers HSBC, AI firm Anthropic and global inflation. Plus, AI-generated Neighbours microdramas.

Anna MacDonald, investment strategy director at Hargreaves Lansdown, joins Kim Sides, BAM’s executive director of construction, to explore budget-week tensions. They discuss infrastructure resilience, tax rumours, long-term investment, AI spending and banking levies. Plus, Oxford Street’s retail revival plans take centre stage as a major stretch of Europe’s busiest shopping street goes car-free.