Investors' Chronicle

After a two-month hiatus, Alex and Lord Lee reunite in the Financial Times studio to cover the latest updates on ten stocks from Lord Lee’s portfolio and questions sent in by listeners. From his thoughts on his biggest holding M&G (MNG) to Cerillion (CER) CEO Louis Hall’s decision to sell a chunk of his holding, Lord Lee shares his invaluable knowledge acquired through his half-century career in investing. As usual, the episode wraps up with an update on Lord Lee’s portfolio, with the latest buys and sells, including one of Simon Thompson’s 2025 Bargain Shares.Timestamps00:13 Introduction00:51 Lord Lee’s take on the market2:54 The government’s growth agenda4:58 M&G9:36 PZ Cussons13:04 Treatt15:32 Listen question on Cerillion18:02 Braemar’s decision to cut its dividend20:58 Reduction in Supermarket Income Reit22:48 Two new positions28:19 Updates from Lord Lee’s long-term holdingsListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Newman, a financial expert at Investors' Chronicle, discusses Ilika, a pioneering solid-state battery company, highlighting its potential in the EV market while cautioning on speculative investment risks. Dave Baxter, the funds editor, shares insights from the refreshed Top 50 ETFs list, revealing strategies for building cost-effective portfolios amidst market volatility. The conversation also dives into Trifast's recovery efforts as it navigates challenges from tariffs and aims to regain profitability, marking a significant turning point for the fastener supplier.

In recent memory, the story of Waspi women has brought into sharp focus the issues surrounding women and their pensions. With many women spending some time out of full-time employment for a variety of reasons, but most notably due to childcare, pensions contributions are often neglected but vitally important to financial security in later life. In this episode of Women and Wealth, the video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, we look at the topic.Personal finance editor, Val Cipriani and digital production journalist, Madelaine Apthorpe discuss the topic that feels far away but should be in any young woman's thoughts as they enter the workforce. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association estimates that in order to retire on a moderate standard, not even a comfortable one, you need £31k a year if you are single and almost £22k each as a couple. This assumes you have already paid off your mortgage by the time you retire and it’s after tax. Scarily, AJ Bell calculated that that is the equivalent of a pension pot worth £490,000 for a single person, or a combined £515,000 for a couple.That's why in this episode, Val and Madi look at ways to maximise your pension pot. They discuss how your employer can help with pension contributions and what you should be doing to boost your retirement income now. Val also answers our reader's question on how you can invest your pension and make sure it's managed correctly. Val explains time horizons, decoding your pension statements and ways to benchmark performance.Women and Wealth is a six part podcast series from Investors' Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.You can also find out more about pension planning with Investors' Chronicle pensions masterclass series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jet2 (JET2) may be on some listeners' minds thanks to a recent TikTok soundbite that has gone viral, but how are its figures faring? Michael Fahy joins Dan Jones to discuss the travel company’s latest results, the demand outlook and how it fares against competitors.Next is Optima Health (OPT). After spinning out from Marlowe (MRL) last year, the occupational health company has pursued a buy-and-build strategy, which seems to be working in its favour. Julian Hofmann explains everything investors need to know.Last up, Alex Newman joins to unveil a handful of new IC stock screens focused on the best businesses from around the world. He explains the background for the decision and a teaser about which screens may work best in the current environment. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on the new screens, email alex.newman@ft.comTimestamps1:18 Jet2 12:28 Optima Health 22:04 New stock screensRead more on these topics:Jet2’s robust trading and earnings beat fail to lift sentimentOptima Health acquires to growA new way to find global investment ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Women and Wealth, the video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, Madelaine Apthorpe and Val Cipriani look at how motherhood and childcare affects a woman's personal finances. Listen or watch to find out what you can do to reduce the impact on your money, and smart things to do to get yourself in the best possible shape, before or after you have had children.Val, Investors' Chronicle's personal finance editor, looks into the fluctuations in the gender pay gap by age to expose how motherhood and childcare is one of the biggest hurdles in the personal finance of a woman and what you need to think about as you embark on this period of your life.Speaking with Alice Guy, independent pension and money expert and chartered accountant, Val also looks at practical tips for mothers and what help is on offer for childcare and how your partner can help support your financial future during this period.Answering our reader's question, Alice and Val also look at what mothers can do today to make sure that their pensions don't take a hit and what your partner and your employer can do to make sure your future isn't financially impacted.Women and Wealth is a six part podcast series from Investors' Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julian Hofmann, a market analyst with expertise in consumer sectors, discusses Greggs' recent sales downturn due to heatwaves and supermarket competition, questioning the bakery's growth strategy. The conversation shifts to undervalued UK tech stocks, emphasizing their untapped potential and the 'mindset gap' that has investors favoring US companies. Lastly, Julian unpacks the challenges facing Watches of Switzerland, including margin pressures from tariffs, while sales are slowly recovering. His insights shed light on the cautious sentiment gripping the luxury retail market.

Single women have it tough, at least from a financial perspective. From a personal perspective you may well be having a better time than being in a relationship, and especially in an unhappy and unsatisfying one, but sadly society is built for couples. In this episode of video podcast series, Women and Wealth, Val Cipriani and Madelaine Apthorpe take a look at the financial hit of staying single and how to protect yourself from it.Val, Investors' Chronicle's personal finance editor, explains to Madi, digital production journalist, how figures from Hargreaves Lansdown shows how much it costs to live, with a single person in the UK on average spending about 22 per cent more than someone in a couple on their rent or mortgage, council tax and fuel, while spending 28 per cent more on food. More depressing still, single people are taxed more than those in a couple, proportionally.But this podcast aims to provide you with practical help in making your money work harder. Val and Madi explore help such as single-occupancy discount on council tax and on water rates and how to make sure your savings account pays a decent rate.Responding to a reader's question, Madi and Val also look at how you can save and afford a home as a single person with practical advice.Women and Wealth is a six part podcast series from Investors' Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, news editor Alex Hamer unpacks the swirling rumors of a Shell and BP merger amidst volatile oil markets, all while examining the implications for both companies. Val Cipriani dives into behavioral finance, revealing how understanding biases can significantly enhance investing strategies. The talk shifts focus to Liontrust, an asset manager facing challenges with outflows, where insights on their latest performance results provide a sobering look at the current investment landscape.

Women and Wealth takes a look at the gender pay gap, how to ask for that pay rise and how to make the most of your work benefits. In this episode of the video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, personal finance editor Val Cipriani discusses with digital production journalist, Madi Apthorpe, how the gender pay gap should be viewed, what can be done about it as well as offering a hope that work and society are moving in the right direction - albeit too slowly.According to date from the ONS from April 2024, among those employed full time, women earn 7 per cent less than men. Across all employees, women earn 13.1 per cent less than men. But things are improving. In 1999, 25 years before the most recent release, the gender pay gap was 16.4 per cent across full time employees, and 26.9 per cent across all employees. However, there's still some way to go and in this episode, Val and Madi take a look at a reader's question to explain how women can make their pay check work harder for them.Also in this episode, The Financial Times' Working It editor, Isabel Berwick, joins Madi to talk about one of the most uncomfortable work conversations, asking for a pay increase. Isabel shares her tips for taking the emotion out of the conversation with your boss and what to remember when you're asking for that pay rise.Women and Wealth is a six part podcast series from Investors' Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The show starts unpacking the latest results from equipment hire company Ashtead (AHT). Mark Robinson analyses the outlook for US construction spending, the company’s sensitivity to tariffs and its valuation. It’s then on to Ashtead’s smaller rival Speedy Hire (SDY), which is closing some of its depots due to rising staff costs. Listen to find out everything investors need to know. Next up is one of the IC's Ideas of the Year, which are putting in a strong performance again in 2025. Pensions consultancy XPS Pensions (XPS) reported full-year figures earlier this week – Julian Hofmann asks if its booming business can continue.Lastly, our Big Read on the medical technology sector. Mark Robinson covers the issues facing the industry, the options for investors and a potential tariff winner.Timestamps 1:50 Ashtead9:20 Speedy Hire18:29 XPS Pensions27:36 MedtechRead more on these topics:Ashtead stymied by falling used equipment salesSpeedy Hire attempts to boost efficiencies as HMRC loads costsThe cutting-edge medtech stocks worth owningListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.