Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell says that he is being bombarded with questions about whether there will be a market meltdown. On the negative side are government debt and interest bills which inhibit growth and might lead to a deflationary bust; soaring private debt; the private credit wobble; unbalanced markets; and high valuations. On the positive side the US economy might run hot as Trump wants; central banks might cut interest rates; and AI could produce an amazing productivity boom. Nervous investors should maintain a diversified portfolio and keep nothing that is giving you ulcers or sleepless nights.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Tim Price of Price Value Partners (Citywire's #1 fund YTD & over 12 months) feels that the performance of gold this year is less a gold story than a currency one. Freezing Russia's reserves torpedoed the US's funding powers when it has $38tn debt to fund. Since then, central banks have been disinvesting US debt in favour of gold bullion. The fiat currency jig is up. We know what a kilogram is, but no longer what a dollar is. Tim also discusses the malign effect of over-regulation, a fantastic book by Dominic Frisby about gold, how investors can tell when gold and silver have gone high enough and why you should not put your faith in debt and cash.
Guests: Tim Price
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With the marking of Margaret Thatcher's 100th birthday, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that many political experts now rate her even more highly than Churchill, a less successful peacetime Prime Minister. As the IMF warns about the UK's debt, growth and inflation, Labour's inability to cut profligate spending is taking the country to the edge while talk of higher taxes in the Budget is undermining confidence. It feels like all that has changed is the colour of the PM's tie. And, tongue firmly in his cheek, he wonders – with the French Fifth Republic in turmoil – whether what the country really needs is a constitutional monarchy.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson loved #1 Tron: Ares, the 3rd in the series. It has amazing graphics, a great score and is often very funny. He was impressed with #3 I Swear, set in the Scottish Borders, about a lad with Tourette's. A true story boasting great real performances, it is funny and yet heartbreaking; James had to hold back tears many times. Despite the Oscar buzz he was disappointed with #5 The Smashing Machine. Yes, Dwayne Johnson can act and Emily Blunt is super but it's a dull story. James and Simon both recommend the 4K restoration of the massively influential 1981 French thriller Diva, with an embarrassment of extras. And James thinks Netflix's Steve, produced by and starring Cillian Murphy – about a head teacher of a reform college – may be a touch melodramatic at times but is one of Murphy's best performances.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin says that Figure AI's mass-produced Figure 03 is the Model-T of humanoid robots. He reveals the truth about the greenness of plug-in hybrid cars. Ferrari have brought out their first electric car – but what noise does it make? Honda are making an "adventure scooter", but so far only in China. Anker are crowdfunding an outdoor projector with inflatable screen. Temu has made £90m profit in the EU, with only 8 employees. And Skyeports believe they can make giant glass spheres on the Moon, but their test is only the size of a cricket ball.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin marvels at Google's weird Japanese keyboard. Australian engineers think giant spiders could 3D-print buildings. The Chinese are training robot dogs for lunar missions. The sawfly's precise way of cutting plants to lay eggs could be adapted for human surgery. The boss of Instagram denies his app is listening to us. There's a projector for the bedroom ceiling, an expandable cargo bike and a way of converting old loudspeakers to use bluetooth. And Seattle scientists have invented a high-tech white stick to guide the blind.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the 2nd anniversary of October 7th and the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, which would be a coup for Donald Trump. It's not an end to the war but a significant step on a long road ahead. Protestors at home are self-indulgent and should read the room. Having been to Labour and Tory party conferences, both leaders have emerged in a stronger position, while Andy Burnham misjudged things. Starmer set out his vision and he and Reeves are now the only game in town. Despite Badenoch banking on the long game, Mike feels she will be supplanted by James Cleverly before the next election.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell considers what might happen to gold. How safe is it riding such a volatile bull? Gold, after all, generates no income. The price appears to be responding to a loss of central bank control, galloping debt and stubborn inflation, as well as central bank buying after US sanctions on Russia. The run may have gone far enough but investors who are interested should remember the importance of being diversified. Russ points out that silver and platinum are still very cheap relative to gold while oil is at relative multi-year lows. Mining stocks tend to lag the metal. Russ mentions a few but thinks broad mining ETFs could be more sensible.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the party conference season. The Labour event was particularly bizarre. Amplifying the Reform message showed they are in serious trouble and indeed the latest polls show Reform at 35%, their highest yet. The public is at the end of its tether with the major parties and isn't buying the change in Labour or Tory rhetoric. Tim expects a wave of Tory defections to coincide with May's elections. Although no sports fan, he finds it sad that the BBC no longer has exclusive rights to any of the sporting events that are part of the fabric of the nation. The Corporation is spread too thinly and floundering and should have the confidence to make itself financially sustainable.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson raves about #1, Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. At times baffling, it's bravura film-making which you can't stop thinking about and which seems destined for Oscar glory. Not so #7 The Strangers: Chapter 2, a nonsensical horror sequel. More interesting is #25 Brides, a low budget production about two naive teenage girls who want to flee the UK. It's very realistic and you don't want to tear your eyes away. Disney+'s The Man In My Basement is a psychological thriller with Willem Dafoe. Scuppered by an unlikeable protagonist, it might have made a better play.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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