Investors' Chronicle

For their latest company interview, Lord Lee and Alex Newman sit down with Lawrence Hutchings, who joined Workspace as CEO in November 2024.That conversation, which was taped on 9 January, was to be one of Hutchings' last in the role. Ten days after the recording, and amid mounting activist pressure from shareholder Saba Capital, Workspace abruptly announced Hutchings would be replaced as CEO by Charlie Green, co-founder of the Office Group.Despite this, we are publishing the conversation below, together with some of John's initial thoughts. Commenting on his own appointment, Green said "the strategy in place is clear and provides the right platform to rebuild occupancy and drive income growth over time." Presumably that means a degree of continuity.Let us know your thoughts on the move, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing alex.newman@ft.comListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTubeTimestamps0:09 Intro5:52 Background on Workspace11:45 Short term rental market16:06 Creative industries 19:54 Occupancy levels24:07 John's views on Workspace28:25 Lessons from other property sub-sectors29:48 Asset disposal programme 39:36 Saba Capital43:20 The optimism scale47:14 Update on John's portfolioInvestors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities. Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Robinson, an equity commentator, dives into the pub sector's surprising recovery, focusing on festive sales and upcoming changes in business rates. Holly McKechnie, a housing market journalist, discusses the implications of the Renters' Rights Act and its potential burden on landlords, addressing trends in buy-to-let properties. Julian Hofmann, a financial journalist, sheds light on Oxford Nanopore's recent return to revenue growth, driven by demand in clinical and biopharma divisions, and outlines its ambitious roadmap to profitability.

This week we’re kicking things off with one of the big company stories of early 2026 – for a number of reasons. It was a busy December for BP (BP.), which junked its chief executive and made progress with some divestment plans. Alex Hamer and Mark Robinson are here to discuss what the imminent arrival of new boss Meg O’Neill might mean for the group and its strategy, all in the context of a dramatic start to the year in which the US has seized control of oil supplies from one of the founding members of Opec.We will also touch on the wider commodities outlook for the year, before moving on to asset allocation in general – our big read this week is all about diversification, why it matters even if you have a high risk tolerance and high risk appetite. Val Cipriani will talk us through the ins and outs later on.To wrap up, we look at the UK company that, it turns out, has been the subject of 11 bids over the past four months. That’s struggling online platform Auction Technology (ATG), whose shares rebounded this week as news broke. Valeria Martinez will discuss what’s next for the business.Timestamps:0:49: BP's new CEO19:3: Diversification strategies31:05: Auction TechnologyRead the articles highlighted in the show:The complete guide to diversifying your portfolioBP announces surprise CEO changeBP heads further upstream after Castrol saleInvestors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities. Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Newman, a financial journalist, shares insights on the FTSE 100's exceptional performance in 2025, attributing gains to sectors like banking and healthcare. Mark Robinson, a market analyst, delves into the intriguing concept of the Santa rally, discussing its origins and what to expect this year. Holly McKechnie, a legal expert, highlights landmark legislation that categorizes crypto as property, outlining its implications for ownership rights and inheritance issues. Together, they unravel the complexities of today's market landscape.

Explore the intriguing world of ethical investing, where aligning your finances with your values can be complex. Discover the significance of ESG labels and the real meaning behind 'ethical' investing. Learn about the trade-offs between sustainability and financial returns, particularly for women investors. Understand how market giants influence sustainability assessments and the importance of transparency. Dive into different investment strategies, from impact funds to ESG screenings, and weigh the pros and cons of sustainable investing.

In this engaging discussion, Jerry Randall, the dynamic Founder and CEO of Venture Life, dives into the company's strategic evolution and its role in the booming self-care market. He shares insights on upcoming acquisitions and the importance of high-margin brands. Lord Lee then reflects on his investment maneuvers, including new forays into Taylor Wimpey and SSP Group, and his impressive annual portfolio performance. Together, they explore the landscape of healthcare regulation, capital challenges, and the future of wellness products.

Join industry experts Julian Hofmann, Michael Fahy, and Hugh Moorhead as they explore some riveting topics. Hofmann discusses the intense bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery, diving into Netflix and Paramount's competing offers and the potential regulatory hurdles. Fahy sheds light on the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles, from current trials in the UK to the economic implications of robotaxis. Meanwhile, Moorhead reviews Berkeley Group's half-year results, highlighting its strategic buybacks and the outlook for high-end London housing.

Simon Thompson, associate editor at Investors' Chronicle, discusses the future of UK small-cap stocks with insights from his 27 years in market analysis. He believes UK equities are positioned well for 2026, driven by strong performance and valuation discounts. They discuss the impacts of the recent Budget, the potential for increased M&A activity, and concerns over the shrinking AIM market. Simon outlines favored sectors like tech and REITs, while sharing a sneak peek into his more aggressive Bargain Shares selection strategy for the coming year.

A day on from Rachel Reeves’ budget, where she announced a ‘smorgasbord’ of tax rises forecast to raise £26bn by 2029-30, the dust is settling. Everything from pension pots to dividends could be affected.Our panel of experts dive into the biggest changes affecting your finances, including all the tax changes, what’s going to happen to the beloved cash Isa and how the chancellor is changing North Sea oil levies.Read our Budget coverageInvestors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities. Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economic abuse is a recently recognised but long-used method of control by domestic abusers and in this episode of Women and Wealth, Investors' Chronicle's Val Cipriani discusses what it is, how it can be spotted and the support available to those being abused in this way with Surviving Economic Abuse's Lauren Garrett.Economic abuse is a legally recognised form of domestic abuse and is defined in the Domestic Abuse Act and 95 per cent of cases of domestic abuse involve economic abuse. It often occurs in the context of intimate partner violence, and involves the control of a partner or ex-partner’s money and finances, as well as the things that money can buy. In this episode, Val and Lauren discuss real-life examples and how you can spot the signs of economic abuse and prevent it from happening to either you or those you know.Women and Wealth is the monthly podcast series from Investors' Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Surviving Economic Abuse. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities. Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.