Investors' Chronicle

Christie Group has a lot going for it. Growing in several countries and an employer to around 650 people, the brokerage business is a well-respected name in multiple niche sectors. Last year sales exceeded £70mn, and management reckons operating profits of £10mn are possible. The kicker, following the disposal of several subsidiaries, is that its balance sheet is full of cash.Lord Lee of Trafford clearly agrees. In more than 80 transactions since 2002, he has amassed a 6 per cent holding across both his personal investment account and the charitable trusts he oversees.So why is the business valued at just £35mn? We put this question and many more to chief executive Dan Prickett, who has been at the company for 17 years - including the last two and a half in the top role.Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTubeTimestamps00:00 Intro00:30 Recap of last episode01:44 Introducing Dan Prickett02:21 What is Christie's05:10 John's history with the business09:37 Institutional shareholders12:10 Dan's stake in the business15:08 Trading statement23:40 Why is the stock price low?30:18 Expansion in Europe35:49 Setting targets37:08 John's portfolio round up39:25 PZ CussonsInvestors' 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, financial journalist who focuses on long-form company analysis, and Chris Akers, asset-management sector commentator, unpack a £10bn takeover of Schroders and consolidation in asset and wealth management. They explore growing private provision of public services and why McDonald’s results matter as a US economic signal.

Valeria Martinez, tech market commentator on AI and software; Erin Withey, fixed-income specialist on corporate bond access; Julian Hofmann, pharma equity analyst focused on GSK. They debate the recent software sell-off and AI threats to enterprise software. They cover FCA reforms widening retail bond access and what to watch when buying corporate debt. They review GSK’s profit momentum, pipeline and AI in R&D.

Val Cipriani, financial journalist who unpacks Hargreaves Lansdown’s fee overhaul and who wins and loses from it. Alex Newman, personal finance writer who explores lower-stress ways to build wealth and why savers favor cash. Mark Robinson, markets reporter who reviews Cranswick’s trading update, premium shift and valuation questions. They discuss platform pricing, calmer investing strategies and Cranswick’s growth drivers.

Julian Hofmann, insurance and markets commentator, breaks down Zurich’s bid for Beazley and sector consolidation. Arthur Sants, tech reporter, files dispatches from South Korea on memory-chip shortages and AI-driven demand. Mike Fahy, space-sector specialist, covers fundraising surges, SpaceX valuation and defence uses of satellites. Fast-paced chat on market moves, manufacturing and the race for orbital opportunity.

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.