Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell points out that while stocks in tech, the US and Latin America have been doing well, markets everywhere have shunned small cap companies. He wonders why they aren't doing well in what is said to be a risk-on period. Having been trained in a bear market, it's making him feel cautious, even though the markets may think they're back in Goldilocks territory. However, he suggests some indicators worth keeping an eye on.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
With AI-chip maker Nvidia surprising the market, Neil Shah of Edison Group looks at ways investors who feel they've missed that particular boat can invest in AI. He singles out as possible AI beneficiaries credit reporter Experian, Ocado and Rightmove and he explains why. But he also looks at the importance of energy efficiency as we head towards Net Zero, highlighting SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust, which has gone from a premium to a substantial discount and has a substantial yield.
Guests: Neil Shah
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
The UK box office is still dominated by Oppenheimer and Barbie, now the UK's 8th most successful film, beating Titanic, says James Cameron-Wilson. DC Comics' Blue Beetle, with a Latino superhero, enters at #3 but is depressingly unoriginal and unengaging. At #5 is Strays, a comedy with foul-talking dogs. Without a whiff of wit, James can't believe it got a 15 certificate. He's more interested in Eureka's restoration 100 years on of Buster Keaton's first feature, Three Ages, which is essentially a series of inventive skits. Fascinating rather than funny, the disc is full of great extras.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin laments the end of Wilko's while marvelling at a toilet-cleaning robot for offices, a tech toilet brush, a sophisticated cocktail maker, braille-coded Lego bricks, vegan spare ribs with edible bones, a snorkel with 10 mins of air, an intelligent cat flap that will stop moggies bringing in unwanted "presents", a humanoid pilot that can do everything a real pilot can do and an ePaper 25-inch poster.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With Nadine Dorries still an MP two months after saying she was quitting, political commentator Mike Indian discusses the difficulties of removing inadequate politicians, pointing out the serious democratic deficiency. As Labour waters down its pledges on workers' rights, he laments the party's cautiousness and asks where is the distinctive offering. He looks at The first Republican Party presidential debate, worrying that it shows that politics is becoming even dirtier and uglier. And with Rishi Sunak tacitly admitting he won't meet his small boats pledge, Mike argues for a fundamental reform of our migration system.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the resurgence of Ireland's economy, driven by tax cuts rather than tax rises. He discusses the documentary Ex Nihilo: The Truth About Money (https://tinyurl.com/2sntvvxd), explaining how many of the West's problems are due to excess money, interest rates and debt and the resulting distortions and bubbles. Too much in the film, he says, isn't understood properly by politicians or even many economists. And he concludes by looking at some of the sinister overtones behind the campaign against cash.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson reports on a UK box office still boosted by Barbie & Oppenheimer at #1 & #2, the former now the 11th most successful film here ever with £78.2m. True(ish) story Gran Turismo, partly based on a computer game, enters at #4. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, James found it hugely entertaining escapism with great race sequences. Disney's reboot of Haunted Mansion, the second based on its theme park ride, he found one of the worst films of the year. On Netflix, however, he found Tom Harper's Heart of Stone an implausible but enjoyable thriller.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin takes Simon Rose on a voyage through the latest tech. There's a hoist to lift your eBike onto your car roof, a cargo eBike and an eBike caravan. Smart glasses make a return as a fitness and navigation aid, there's a mouse that clips to your fingers, scientists have come up with 3D printed vegan seafood, China is limiting smartphone use for under-18s and you can buy an electric wheelbarrow wheel and a chair to cool you down. In New Zealand, a meal-bot has's been coming up with some hair-raising recipes, thanks to mischievous users.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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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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