Merryn Talks Money

Despite a rough few years for her Innovation exchange-traded fund, Ark Investment Management founder Cathie Wood still sees a bright future. She joins this week to talk about her outlook, Tesla, the merits of Bitcoin and more. Plus, John Stepek joins to discuss the Bank of England's decision to keep rates unchanged. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the UK, there are 70% fewer listed companies today than in 1996. Around the world, equity markets are getting progressively smaller as the number of publicly traded companies dwindles. So where have all the companies gone? In this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money, Schroders’s Duncan Lamont and Douglas Abbott join host Merryn Somerset Webb to try and answer that question.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why have equity markets around the world, and in the UK in particular, been shrinking? According to Duncan Lamont and Douglas Abbott of Schroders, the answer is simple: a robust private equity industry means more companies are going private. The two men joined Merryn Somerset Webb this week on the podcast Merryn Talks Money to discuss this state of affairs, both globally and in Britain where the situation has become extreme. There are 70% fewer listed companies in the UK today than was the case in 1996. In this week’s aftershow, senior reporter John Stepek joins host Somerset Webb to discuss the solutions posited by Lamont and Abbott for tackling the disappearance of listed UK companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way the British government funds itself is complicated—ridden with fiscal drag and stealth levies. Everyone seems to hate the system for something, and there’s arguably a dire need for reform. That’s the case that was made by Institute for Fiscal Studies Director Paul Johnson during an episode of Merryn Talks Money this week. But what kind of changes are we talking about, and will they work? In this week’s special aftershow episode, Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek unpack Johnson’s comments on the UK tax system and the changes he says are necessary to encourage growth across the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Institute for Fiscal Studies Director Paul Johnson joins this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money to explain how the seemingly impossible can be achieved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a new series, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek are examining housing markets across the globe to see how they’re holding up, and if there are any lessons we can read across to the UK. On this episode, they take a look at Germany with Bloomberg editor Benedikt Kammel and TV correspondent Oliver Crook, both in Berlin, and talk about the profitable world of subletting, the consequences of rent control and the country's fascination with Kleingartens.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The reckoning for markets is picking up speed, says GMO co-founder Jeremy Grantham, and as a result investors for should be wary of the US. On this week's aftershow, Merryn and John Stepek unpack Grantham's comments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Grantham, renowned investment strategist, discusses the US investment landscape and warns of the vulnerability of the Russell 2000 due to rising rates and zombie companies. He analyzes the bond market bubble and its consequences for governments, explores the existence of a financial bubble and strategies to navigate it, emphasizes the importance of bravery in investing, and discusses the relationship between inflation, interest rates, and the stock market. He also expresses skepticism towards Bitcoin and advocates for gold as an inflation hedge.

If you think the US is heading for a soft landing, you might have another thing coming. That’s according to Seema Shah, the chief global strategist for Principal Asset Management. Despite a stream of data in recent weeks supporting the Federal Reserve’s best-case scenario, Shah argues there’s no way an economy can survive the super-fast shift in interest rates just seen without some relatively unpleasant repercussions. What would that future look like? Shah joins this week’s Merryn Talks Money to give her view of the landscape. Plus, Merryn and John Stepek discuss what Shah's predictions could mean for your portfolio, and John's tip of the week could earn you £1000 for a few hours of "admin work." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Brexit to blame for the UK's problems? Guests Robert Colville and Julian Jessop discuss the short-term damage caused by Brexit, such as friction with trading partners and political uncertainty. However, the long-term harm is uncertain. They explore the impact on the UK economy, debunk myths surrounding Brexit's negative effects, and highlight the need to seize opportunities. The podcast also delves into Brexit's effects on political stability, the future of reconciliation, and the rise of the canist state.