Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell takes a look at what's been driving markets on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, it's largely been growth stocks with some element of travel as well. In the UK, it's largely been companies like Rolls-Royce, and Marks and Spencer, companies that had seemed very much out of favour at the turn of the year. Many of the best performers are consumer-led stocks, despite cost-of-living pressures. He feels that, in the UK, there's an element of vlue investing with companies like M&S rapidly reducing its debt position. The big question now is, how long can it last?
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Neil Shah of Edison Group discusses the media sector. While consumers may welcome the end of the online cookie, in the UK only the movie and entertainment sectors are doing well, with most others struggling and hoping to see rising confidence among consumers. Neil, however, discusses one company that has and continues to do well. Based in the US but listed in London, 4Imprint does branded marketing for small businesses. An exceptional business, it's highly efficient, caring and has a tiny market share and, although highly rated, it's deserved.
Guests: Neil Shah
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson marvels at the UK box office, down a mere 10% on the week but up 165% YOY. Barbie has passed the $1bn mark, the first time for a woman director and it and Oppenheimer are still #1 & #2. In at #3 is monster movie Meg 2: The Trench with Jason Statham, bizarrely directed by highly-regarded Ben Wheatley. James found it so silly, it almost became a farce. He did, however, adore French film Paris Memories, on at selected cinemas. A psychologically complex look at the aftermath of a terrorist attack, he found it one of the most human films he's ever seen.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin tells Simon Rose about the latest tech developments. There's a demo of AI computer game characters who can interact realistically with players, devices to help deaf concertgoers and blind subway users, how simply thinking about music can now actually produce it, glue that can be unstuck on demand, a camera so fast it can capture light in motion and take photos in almost total darkness, an electric guitar for children, why bras may be soon be able to check for breast cancer and how buildings made of concrete could become giant batteries.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With NHS waiting lists reaching a record high of 7.6m, political commentator Mike Indian looks at the PM's pledges on that and on inflation, still stubbornly high. He discusses the migrant issue as the first asylum seekers arrive on the Bibby Stockholm, wondering why asylum seekers couldn't be put to work in the interim and wishing that on this, and many other issues, we could have some bigger thinking. He also looks at Net Zero and why it has become the political football of the summer.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Laith Khalaf of A J Bell talks to Simon Rose about the Bank of England's latest interest rate rise, the 14th in a row, taking it to 5.25%. As he points out, two MPC members wanted to increase it to 5.5%. Laith looks at the BoE's latest inflation forecasts (which will be a relief to the PM) and discusses the ramifications of Fitch downgrading the United States' credit rating. Investors, he says, shouldn't get too caught up in all this but should stick to their knitting and keep a long-term view.
Guests: Laith Khalaf
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With both probable Presidential candidates facing legal challenges, Professor Tim Evans says that America is at its most divided since the Civil War, a terrifying prospect for those who believe in democracy and the rule of law. He wonders if we might be at an inflexion point where the old order is falling apart. Tony Blair claimed that a future generation will take the UK back into the EU but is the EU what it was and will it continue to be appealing to those who opposed Brexit? And he looks at Japan's falling birth rate and ageing population and points out how similar problems are facing many other countries, with massive implications for the sustainability of the welfare state.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson takes Simon Rose through the revitalised UK box office which, although down 25% WOW, is still up 137% on this time last year. Barbie, still #1, has taken £48m after just 10 days and is already the 3rd highest grossing film of the year. Oppenheimer remains #2 with a £27.7m total. In at #5 is Australian horror Talk To Me, which James thought a real original. Despite being a hardened fan of the genre, he thought it deeply unnerving. He also enjoyed The Beanie Bubble, the story of Beanie Babies, which is streaming on Apple TV+.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin delves into the latest tech. He is excited about a room-temperature superconductor, producing no heat, which could have extraordinary ramifications. There's a camping induction cooker, a cryptocurrency where you have to prove you're human, Meta's AI chatbot in the persona of Abraham Lincoln, Australian doctors being told not to use ChatGPT for writing medical notes, a new way to recycle tech, an E-trike like a go-cart and Steve's favourite gadget of the year, an autonomous crowd-funded drone that follows you with a palm takeoff and landing.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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James Cameron-Wilson reports on an extraordinary week for the UK box office, up 92% WOW and 190% YOY. Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, enters at #1 with an impressive £18.5m weekend take. James found it original, smart, funny, timely and moving, considering it "a cinematic miracle". Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer was #2 with £10.9m. With an all-star cast led by Cillian Murphy, he found it timely and relevant and full of extraordinary moments, let down by an unwieldy final hour (of three). Perhaps not surprisingly, no other big movies are due to open against these two behemoths next week.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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