AJ Bell Money & Markets

Geopolitical tension around Iran is rattling oil markets and investor nerves. The UK’s inflation picture and looming food-price pressures get unpacked. Corporate moves from Kingfisher, Revolut and a possible beauty-sector tie-up feature. Retail sales data looks grim, and Premier Foods discusses brand strategy, innovation and growth plans.

Jonathan Guthrie, ex-Financial Times Lex chief and author of The Truth About Investing, drops by to talk investing narratives and market behaviour. He discusses why panic is costly and how to navigate market wobble. Conversation also covers the oil-driven squeeze on travel and carmakers, shifting mortgage deal availability, and last-minute tax-year planning.

Markets have been rocky, energy prices are moving, and the tax year end is approaching fast. In this week’s Money & Markets podcast, we break down the latest market news, what’s happening in the Middle East and energy markets, and why ISA season could be more important than ever for investors.  We also look at Persimmon’s results and why Domino’s might offer a rare bright spot, plus practical tips on staying calm when markets are volatile. And with the tax year deadline approaching, we answer your most common ISA questions – from lump sum investing to flexible ISAs and avoiding last-minute mistakes.  You’ll also hear where ISA millionaires are investing right now, and a quickfire round of ISA myths vs facts to help you make smarter decisions before the deadline.  If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe.     01:22 Middle East tensions & energy market moves  06:51 Persimmon results - UK housebuilders update   09:22 Domino’s results – volumes fall on tough conditions  12:02 Inside the latest issue of Shares magazine  14:38 How investors can stay calm in volatile markets  20:26 Personal finance implications of market turbulence  23:40 Dividend tax changes from 6 April explained  25:44 ISA millionaires – where they’re investing now  31:35 ISA Q&A: your questions answered  41:54 What’s coming up next week 

Colby Stilson, co-portfolio manager at Brown Advisory focused on bonds, explains why big tech are issuing corporate debt to fund AI infrastructure. Simon Skinner, leader of Orbis' global investment team, outlines which US sectors could ride the AI wave. They discuss AI-driven bond issuance, sector winners, long-dated debt demand, and why investors should rethink valuations and duration risks.

Join Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford in a new bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts. They break down the latest trends in investment trust discounts, and which names are looking cheaper or more expensive.  Dan speaks with Martin Connaghan of Murray International to discuss the investing debate around sin stocks, ethical investing, and whether morals come into fund manager portfolio decisions.  Hannah interviews Nicola Takada Wood, managing director, Japan at Asset Value Investors about Japan’s recent election and the outlook for investing in the country.  Finally, Dan chats with Stephen Anness from Invesco Global Equity Income Trust about the prospects for dividend growth and why he's looking in less obvious places for income.  00:00 — Introduction: What’s coming up  01:23 — What investment trust discounts are, why they matter, and the big changes observed by Hannah and Dan  12:42 — Dan talks to Martin Connaghan on sin stocks and ethical investing  27:25 — Hannah chats with Nicola Takada Wood about Japan’s political landscape and what that means for investors  41:00 — Interview: Stephen Anness on the search for attractive dividends  If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more insights from the AJ Bell investing team. 

UK and European markets reach record highs. That's despite the tariff turmoil since the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's liberation day plans. Danni dives into the latest on Meta's deal with AMD, Anthropic's latest plug ins and Paramount up the stakes in the bidding war for Warner Bros. Diageo’s first results under Sir Dave Lewis show that not even Guinness couldn’t steady the ship at the big brand giant, plus a £1 billion funding boost for UK self-driving tech firm Wayve. Cuts to the energy price cap and the odds of winning on Premium Bonds. Adam Rackley from the Cape Wrath Focus Fund tells Dan Coatsworth why he likes to invest when others are jumping ship. [00:10] – Welcome  [01:34] – Markets are shrugging off the latest tariff drama...for now [08:45] – Danni Hewson has the latest on the AI arms race, with AMD, Meta and Anthropic [14:40] – Diageo results show 'Drastic Dave' has his work cut out [20:00] – Danni shares AJ Bell's consumer trends research findings [24:00] - UK self driving firm Wayve raises another £1 billion in a funding deal [27:45] - Bidding war for Warner Bros: Paramount comes back with a sweeter deal [30:00] – Energy price cap cut: Charlene Young looks at how this measures up against promised £150 cuts to bills [32:51] - Rachel Reeves delivers her Spring Statement next week; what might be in it?  [38:11] – NS&I slashes premium bond prize funds rate and chances of winning  [42:10] – Dan Coatsworth talks value investing with Cape Wrath Focus Fund

Why the UK stock market is smashing expectations in 2026, and a crucial warning about fake celebrity investment ads fooling thousands. Dan Coatsworth also sits down with Filtronic, the company behind an 800% share price surge and major new contracts with SpaceX. Big gains, big deals – and big insights you won’t want to miss. If you enjoy this podcast, please select ‘like’ and ‘subscribe’.   [00:09] – Welcome & what’s moving markets this week [01:21] – How the UK stock market is outperforming the US (again) [03:48] – Why insider trades at Raspberry Pi & M&S really matter [07:53] – The Japanese toilet company tipped as the next AI winner [09:36] – UK inflation: Charlene Young breaks down the latest numbers [12:20] – Scam alert: Charlene exposes fake celebrity investment ads [16:26] – Filtronic CEO interview: SpaceX contracts, defence deals & an 800% share price surge [31:49] – Why annuities are suddenly back in demand [36:19] – The worrying rise of UK households struggling to earn a decent living [39:03] – Small caps comeback? Fund manager Richard Penny shares his signs of recovery

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, how financial markets reacted to speculation around the future of Keir Starmer as UK prime minister. [02:00]  Dan Coatsworth and Tom Sieber unpack the latest results from Shell, BP and Barclays. [05:05]  AI has haunted parts of the stock market once again, with financial comparison websites and insurance brokers the latest victims as investors fear major disruption to their business. [11:12]  There was some remarkable news in the pharmaceutical space as Novo Nordisk battled Him & Her’s amid controversy around the launch of copycat weight-loss drugs. The pod team explore the weight loss drug space in more detail and explain why one analyst thinks Greggs is a major loser as people slim down. [15:05]  Dan talks to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare about how Eli Lilly has scored the top slot in the weight-loss drug market [24:13]. Martin Gamble chats to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investment about other names to watch in this space. [30:13]  Charlene Young is on the show to explain why everyone’s talking about student loans. [33:00]  Finally, Danni Hewson talks to Pathos Communications about its experiences of listing on the UK stock market and the use of AI in the public relations industry. [45:32] 

Chris Tennant, Fidelity Emerging Markets co-manager, on why AI, semiconductors and commodity/currency shifts are making emerging markets interesting. Andrew Westhead, Retail Director at NS&I, on why premium bonds stay Britain's favourite and how NS&I funds the Treasury. Short, punchy discussions about China, TSMC, prize odds, and how public savings link to government finance.

Welcome to the monthly bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts, presented by Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford.  The pair discuss the outlook for activist investors in the investment trust space, the extent to which Saba is involved in the industry, and who could be the next targets. [02:05]  Dan talks to Ed Cartright, CEO of Arcus Investment, about a desire to replace the manager at Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon and take over running the trust. [15:13]  This episode’s big theme is the healthcare space [25:37]. Dan talks to Gareth Powell from Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust about why the sector disappointed for several years and has now burst back to life; as well as the underappreciated importance of generic drugs.  Martin Gamble talks to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investments about why big drug companies are buying small biotech firms.  Dan also chats to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare on how pharma companies have effectively been forced to invest heavily in the US to avoid tariffs; why Donald Trump has launched a website so consumers can buy medicines direct from manufacturers; and the outlook for drug pricing globally.   Finally, Hannah interviews Carlos Hardenberg from the Mobius Investment Trust about dealing with political turmoil in emerging markets, and how he safeguards his investments from it. [49:37]  Download AJ Bell’s free report on activists in the investment trust space: https://www.ajbell.co.uk/investment/investment-trust-report