Investors' Chronicle

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 coverage 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Val Cipriani, an investment journalist specializing in trusts, discusses the narrowing discounts and increased M&A activity in the sector. Holly McKechnie, a financial analyst, shares insights on a significant rise in buybacks and their effectiveness. Hugh Moorhead, a company analyst, breaks down Rightmove's £60m AI investment plan and the market's concerns, including potential litigation challenges. Together, they explore trends, challenges, and strategic moves shaping investment trusts and Rightmove's future.

Valeria Martinez, a finance commentator specializing in utilities, dives into SSE's ambitious £33bn investment plan, revealing why it excited investors. Alex Newman highlights the plan's market implications and regulatory aspects. Mike Fairhear analyzes Volex's robust performance and its strategic pivot towards data centers under new leadership. Mark Robinson discusses the newly listed auditor MHA, assessing its growth prospects amid market challenges. Together, they unravel the intricate dynamics of infrastructure investments and market reactions.

Lord John Lee of Trafford, an experienced investor and UK equities commentator, shares insights on his portfolio and the upcoming Autumn Budget. He discusses the ups and downs of stocks like Treatt and STV, and praises Goodwin as an exciting engineering player. John elaborates on the cautious appeal of small-cap Venture Life and reliable income from James Halstead. He also touches on Primary Health Properties' attractive yield and MS International's defense sector potential. Lastly, he offers a forecast on budget-related tax measures.

Mark Robinson, a financial journalist, dives into Marks & Spencer's latest half-year results, revealing the impact of a recent cyber attack on profits and performance. James Norrington, a technology commentator, explores groundbreaking advances in quantum computing, discussing their implications for markets and AI. Finally, investment expert Val Cipriani reviews the performance of key UK-listed healthcare trusts and highlights innovative strategies aimed at attracting investors. Tune in for insights on retail resilience, quantum stock speculation, and healthcare trust dynamics!

Hugh Moorhead, a banking analyst, explores the UK banking sector's outlook, focusing on provisions for motor finance and regulatory impacts. He highlights Barclays’ significant private credit exposure. Valeria Martinez, a financial journalist, analyzes Next 15’s recent struggles, including a major client loss and management shake-up, and discusses its restructuring efforts to regain market confidence. They also look into Kitwave's resilient growth despite a recent profit warning and how it's navigating domestic challenges.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ylva Baeckström, a Senior lecturer in finance at King's Business School, explores the crucial intersection of psychology and investing. She highlights how emotions can cloud financial judgment, especially during market downturns, and discusses gender differences in investment behavior. Dr. Baeckström advocates for better financial education and representation of women in finance, pointing out that women often have more successful portfolios despite facing systemic biases. She also offers practical tips to empower all investors.

Gold’s recent super rally has left investors wondering what’s coming next. Alex Hamer breaks down what is driving the surge, and the recent sell-off, whether volatility is now the norm, and what analysts’ outlook is for the yellow metal. It’s then on to the credit scoring business Experian (EXPN). The US credit scoring market has come under scrutiny recently, and Valeria Martinez unpacks how exposed the company is and what it's doing in response.Continuing in the US, concerns persist over the world's largest economy and its reliance on tech stocks. Mark Robinson looks at what point AI needs to start delivering actual productivity gains before a correction occurs, and compares the AI boom to the dotcom era. Timestamps 1:16 Gold 12:34 Experian21:13 US bubbleHow to spot the gold price topWhy a US credit score overhaul actually helps Experian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FCA’s long-awaited motor finance redress scheme landed with a lower overall compensation figure than expected. Mark Robinson explores how Lloyds (LLOY) and Close Brothers (CBG) have responded, why both plan to challenge the proposals, and whether the scheme risks turning into another PPI-style saga.Our Big Read is next. The future of cities is shifting as travel and office attendance continue to climb back slowly. Michael Fahy, author of the feature, looks at the steady uptick in London office occupancy, trends between the UK and US markets, and how Reits are reshaping portfolios.Last up, Whitbread (WTB) reported results slightly ahead of estimates, yet shares fell amid rising costs and lease charges. Erin Withey analyses how the Premier Inn owner continues to gain UK market share in a slower economy, and how its accelerated growth plan could unlock long-term value.Timestamps 1:15 Motor finance12:15 The future of cities23:08 WhitbredRead the stories mentioned in the show:Banking shares rise on lower-than-expected motor finance costsMega-cities need to grow – here’s how investors can take advantageWhitbread hit by planned UK restaurant closures and softer demand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.