Investors Chronicle

Jet2 (JET2) may be on some listeners' minds thanks to a recent TikTok soundbite that has gone viral, but how are its figures faring? Michael Fahy joins Dan Jones to discuss the travel company’s latest results, the demand outlook and how it fares against competitors.Next is Optima Health (OPT). After spinning out from Marlowe (MRL) last year, the occupational health company has pursued a buy-and-build strategy, which seems to be working in its favour. Julian Hofmann explains everything investors need to know.Last up, Alex Newman joins to unveil a handful of new IC stock screens focused on the best businesses from around the world. He explains the background for the decision and a teaser about which screens may work best in the current environment. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on the new screens, email alex.newman@ft.comTimestamps1:18 Jet2 12:28 Optima Health 22:04 New stock screensRead more on these topics:Jet2’s robust trading and earnings beat fail to lift sentimentOptima Health acquires

In this episode of Women and Wealth, the video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, Madelaine Apthorpe and Val Cipriani look at how motherhood and childcare affects a woman's personal finances. Listen or watch to find out what you can do to reduce the impact on your money, and smart things to do to get yourself in the best possible shape, before or after you have had children.Val, Investors' Chronicle's personal finance editor, looks into the fluctuations in the gender pay gap by age to expose how motherhood and childcare is one of the biggest hurdles in the personal finance of a woman and what you need to think about as you embark on this period of your life.Speaking with Alice Guy, independent pension and money expert and chartered accountant, Val also looks at practical tips for mothers and what help is on offer for childcare and how your partner can help support your financial future during this period.Answering our reader's question, Alice and Val also look at what mothers can do today to make sure

We begin with well-loved pastry seller Greggs (GRG), which suffered a downturn in sales per its latest trading update. Julian Hofmann explains the reasons for this, from heatwaves to competition from supermarkets, and what investors should make of it.It’s then on to our Big Read on undervalued UK tech stars. Many of our home-grown companies have a lot to offer, but investors favour the US big names instead. Valeria Martinez and Mark Robinson look at the causes behind this, the “mindset gap”, and overlooked intellectual property.Lastly, Julian Hofmann rejoins to unpack Watches of Switzerland (WOSG), which has taken a hit to margins thanks to tariffs. The retailer’s sales growth is ticking up, but the market still seems spooked. Mark and Julian discuss what issues are keeping investors cautious.Timestamps 2:46 Greggs9:25 Undervalued UK tech15:54 Watches of SwitzerlandRead more on these topics: Star British tech stocks hiding in plain sightWatches of Switzerland boosted by luxury jewellery but margin o

Single women have it tough, at least from a financial perspective. From a personal perspective you may well be having a better time than being in a relationship, and especially in an unhappy and unsatisfying one, but sadly society is built for couples. In this episode of video podcast series, Women and Wealth, Val Cipriani and Madelaine Apthorpe take a look at the financial hit of staying single and how to protect yourself from it.Val, Investors' Chronicle's personal finance editor, explains to Madi, digital production journalist, how figures from Hargreaves Lansdown shows how much it costs to live, with a single person in the UK on average spending about 22 per cent more than someone in a couple on their rent or mortgage, council tax and fuel, while spending 28 per cent more on food. More depressing still, single people are taxed more than those in a couple, proportionally.But this podcast aims to provide you with practical help in making your money work harder. Val and Madi explore help such as single-occup

We begin the show with this week’s big companies news, that Shell (SHEL) was reported to be in early-stage talks to buy BP (BP.). Shell has denied the report, from the Wall Street Journal, but speculation continues. Dan Jones is joined by news editor Alex Hamer to get to the bottom of it.Next, we discuss how behavioural finance can make you a better investor. Val Cipriani has delved into the field for her latest article, and shares some practical tips that can drastically improve your returns.Lastly we turn to beleaguered asset manager Liontrust (LIO), which has been struggling with outflows for some time – Mark Robinson and Julian Hofmann join the show to share their assessment of its latest full-year results.Timestamps1:22 Shell/BP16:04 How to be a better investor27:50 LiontrustRead more on these topics:Shell denies BP merger talksHow to be a more effective investorLiontrust waves goodbye to £5bn in managed assetsListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on&nb

Women and Wealth takes a look at the gender pay gap, how to ask for that pay rise and how to make the most of your work benefits. In this episode of the video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, personal finance editor Val Cipriani discusses with digital production journalist, Madi Apthorpe, how the gender pay gap should be viewed, what can be done about it as well as offering a hope that work and society are moving in the right direction - albeit too slowly.According to date from the ONS from April 2024, among those employed full time, women earn 7 per cent less than men. Across all employees, women earn 13.1 per cent less than men. But things are improving. In 1999, 25 years before the most recent release, the gender pay gap was 16.4 per cent across full time employees, and 26.9 per cent across all employees. However, there's still some way to go and in this episode, Val and Madi take a look at a reader's question to explain how women can make their pay check work harder for them.Also in this episode,

The show starts unpacking the latest results from equipment hire company Ashtead (AHT). Mark Robinson analyses the outlook for US construction spending, the company’s sensitivity to tariffs and its valuation. It’s then on to Ashtead’s smaller rival Speedy Hire (SDY), which is closing some of its depots due to rising staff costs. Listen to find out everything investors need to know. Next up is one of the IC's Ideas of the Year, which are putting in a strong performance again in 2025. Pensions consultancy XPS Pensions (XPS) reported full-year figures earlier this week – Julian Hofmann asks if its booming business can continue.Lastly, our Big Read on the medical technology sector. Mark Robinson covers the issues facing the industry, the options for investors and a potential tariff winner.Timestamps 1:50 Ashtead9:20 Speedy Hire18:29 XPS Pensions27:36 MedtechRead more on these topics:Ashtead stymied by falling used equipment salesSpeedy Hire attempts to boost efficiencies as HMRC loads costsThe cutting-e

Relationships are an important aspect in anyone's life; a matter of the heart but also one for your bank account. In the second episode of Women and Wealth, a video podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, personal finance editor Val Cipriani and digital production journalist Madelaine Apthorpe look at what women should be thinking about as they find true love.Val looks at how women can protect their personal finance in entering a relationship and the important things to take into account as you move through the relationship stages of moving in with your beloved, getting married and having children. Madi discusses with Val how you should split the bills, whilst asking about rental contracts and what support is offered with the likes of Lisas and other savings accounts.Val also answers our reader's question about what financial considerations should be made as she weighs up getting married. Madi and Val look at whether married couple tax benefits offsets the ridiculous price of wedding flowers and how women c

Valeria Martinez begins the show by unpacking FirstGroup’s (FGP) results. Valeria and Dan explore how the renationalisation of rail franchises is affecting the business, the timeline for other franchise nationalisations and how the company looks compared with its peers.Next, materials company Oxford Instruments (OXIG), which this week announced it was selling its quantum business for £60mn. Julian Hofmann looks at what it will focus on instead, its exposure to tariffs and more. Last up, Alex Newman joins to discuss Blue Whale Growth holding Philip Morris (US:PM). It differs vastly from the fund’s typical tech holdings, and the tobacco company is now considered an ESG stock by some. Listen to find out the latest investment case. Timestamps 1:46 FirstGroup12:42 Oxford Instruments21:38 Philip Morris and Blue Whale Growth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why don’t women invest more than they currently do? In this new podcast series from Investors’ Chronicle, personal finance editor Val Cipriani and digital production journalist Madelaine Apthorpe look into the financial decisions and issues facing women in the UK.In the first episode, Val and Madi look at the investment gap and why women should invest more. Boring Money research estimates that there are 3.3mn more male than female investors in the UK. In monetary terms, the gender investment gap in the UK is around £678bn, roughly the size of Switzerland’s economy. As of 2022, British men had on average about £93,000 more in total wealth than women, a gap of 35 per cent.Val and Madi explore why women tend not to invest as much as men, looking at the research that suggests that when women do invest, they’re often better at it. Val explains how to approach your appetite for risk and what women who are considering investing should do as first steps.Women and Wealth is a six part podcast series from Investors’ Ch

Welcome to Women and Wealth, the new six part podcast series from Investors' Chronicle, looking at the world of investing and personal finance issues facing women. Join personal finance editor Val Cipriani and digital production journalist Madelaine Apthorpe as they explain and advise on everything from how to invest to asking for pay rise at work in the video podcast series.Across the six initial episodes, Val and Madi will discuss the investment gap; as men vastly outweigh women in investing, how to look after your finances in a relationship and moving in with your partner. Looking at the gender pay gap and how women can make sure they're getting fair pay for their work, Madi speaks with The Financial Times' Isabel Berwick about pay and work on tips to getting a better pay check.Other episodes look at the single women penalty, how to make the most of retirement as a woman and in an episode looking how motherhood can affect your personal finances, Val sits down with Alice Guy, a chartered accountant and moth

In the week the UK launched its strategic defence review, Dan Jones is joined by Christopher Akers to discuss the latest half-year figures from UK defence specialist Chemring (CHG), which have come in ahead of analyst consensus and reveal a record order book of £1.3bn. We then move further afield to Latin America, where stock markets have bounced back after a difficult 2024. Holly McKechnie joins the show to talk about the funds making the most of the rally.Moving back to the UK, companies editor Mark Robinson then joins Dan to discuss another company that has done well in recent days and weeks, Paragon Banking (PAG). What differentiates it from its peers?Timestamps1:17 UK Defence Spending11:30 Latin America19:11 Paragon BankMore on these topics:Chemring points to strategic defence review benefits as order book swellsThe Latin American funds with the most potentialParagon Banking beats expectations and upgrades outlook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with FTSE 250 retailer Pets at Home (PETS), whose veterinary arm is now making more than the retail business. Mark Robinson unpacks why this may be, the outlook for the year ahead and the valuation case.Our cover feature on 25 years of volatility is next. Julian Hofmann shares a quick recap of the more serious issues investors have dealt with over this period, the lessons learnt and more. Last up, BT (BT). The business's revenue declined year-on-year, but both Ebitda and normalised free cash flow were on the rise. Dan Jones and Mark Robinson unpack what’s been going on at the company. Timestamps1:25 Pets at Home14:31 25 years of volatility23:14 BTMore on these topics Pets at Home boosted by higher-margin vet servicesInvesting lessons from the past 25 yearsBT’s rationalisation boosts cash flows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diploma’s latest results proved that investors’ confidence in the company is justified. Valeria Martinez joins Dan Jones to unpack the case for the specialist manufacturer, and whether its valuation is becoming stretched.  Alex Newman, author of this week’s Big Read on global tracker funds, discusses the contradictions that exist in the popular products and what investors can do to overcome them.We wrap up with Alex Hamer on why it might be the end of the road for the cobalt bull run, and China’s role in this shift.Timestamps1:28 Diploma10:49 Global stock market trackers25:58 CobaltMore on these topics:Diploma hits all-time high after raising guidanceGlobal trackers are broken – here’s how investors can fix themIs it finally time for cobalt to make a comeback? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with Experian’s (EXPN) latest results. Host Dan Jones and Julian Hofmann unpack what went right for the business, how it could fare in the event of a US slowdown, and whether investors should get involved. Next up is Imperial Brands (IMB). Chris Akers shares what led to the big share price reaction, how it compares with other competitors in the tobacco industry and what the main attraction is for investors.Last up, Val Cipriani discusses her personal finance feature on investing to travel the world. Listen to find out everything you need to know, from what to do with your home to what kind of portfolio you should build.Timestamps1:28 Experian13:16 Imperial Brands22:33 Investing to travel the world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The period since the last episode of Lee and the IC has been eventful to say the least, and the pair begin by unpacking Donald Trump’s tariffs, the subsequent market sell-off, and how it compares to similar eras in market history. The episode follows in typical fashion, and Lord Lee updates listeners on changes he has made to his portfolio in the period following “liberation day”, including Treatt (TET), and reveals why he believes PZ Cussons (PZC ) is a severely underrated stock.To wrap up, Alex queries Lord Lee on how he may use his M&G dividend, and Lord Lee shares why he has been involved in the stock market for over half a century. Timestamps 1:12 Liberation Day reaction3:33 Lord Lee’s opinion of the turn the world is taking5:41 Did Lord Lee expect a climbdown6:51 April’s selloff compared to others in history 9:49 Market rebounds to a downturn11:26 UK and US trade deal 14:04 Lord Lee’s portfolio during the tariff-induced downturn17:29 Lord Lee’s view on holding cash19:09 Trea

We begin with Arthur Sants and Dan Jones discussing the Apple antitrust issue, the iPhone manufacturer's role in Alphabet’s share price fall and Google’s place in the search engine world.Michael Fahy, author of this week’s Big Read on the future of aviation, up next. He explains some of the developments in the industry, the top players, and what companies may be under threat by the arrival of more modern aviation and fuel sources. Valeria Martinez then covers Mobico’s school bus fleet sale. The deal has been in the making for a while and aimed to reduce the company’s debt, but the agreement has since led to a significant share price drop. Valeria lays out its current debt situation, why investors are concerned and more. Timestamps 1:17 Apple & Alphabet20:50 The future of aviation34:38 Mobico Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Baxter returns with another IC Interviews, and he sits down with one of the rising stars of fund management, Jasmine Yeo of Ruffer Investment Company, the FTSE 250 trust that aims to deliver positive returns for investors throughout all market situations. Listen to find out how the portfolio is behaving in the wake of Donald Trump’s swathe of tariffs, which diversifiers the Forbes 30 Under 30 fund manager is backing, the macro threats the team are positioning for, and more. Timestamps 1:09 How the portfolio has held up 5:10 When it would be sensible to add risk7:09 US exceptionalism  11:53 Bonds 15:45 Reliable protectors17:12 Gold 20:18 Other diversifiers 21:40 Main macro threats and opportunities 24:30 Growth and equity exposurer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent results from Associated British Foods (ABF) highlighted that both its food and retail arms are facing some bumps in the road – think falling sugar prices and tariffs. Mike Fahy, Julian Hofmann and Alex Newman weigh in on everything going on and what investors need to know.Gold next. Its price reached an all-time high this month, and Alex Hamer looks at the drivers behind this boom, where it could fit in a portfolio today, and sheds some light on investment options. Lastly, Jemma Slingo unpacks results from Keystone Law (KEYS). Jemma and Dan discuss why investors were pleased and how changes to its offices aid its balance sheet. Timestamps 1:25 ABF15:52 Gold 29:44 Keystone Law Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another packed episode, host Dan Jones is joined by Christopher Akers to look at half-year results from car testing company AB Dynamics (ABDP). Can it continue to perform well at a time when the automotive industry is yet again facing a string of pressures, including those dreaded tariffs?Next up is a look at this week’s Big Read on ‘survivor shares’. James Norrington introduces the thinking behind the piece and discusses the metrics you can use to find companies that will prosper in an uncertain world. The team then turn to preference shares. While loved by income seekers because of their impressive yields, they may not be long for this world given Aviva’s (AV.) successful attempt to cancel some of its prefs this month. Jemma Slingo discusses the implications and whether investors are being too hasty in voting for the cancellation of these shares.1:21 AB Dynamics10:35 Survivor Shares22:13 Preference shares Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.