Episodes

  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The ramifications of Deep Seek for UK investors

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The ramifications of Deep Seek for UK investors
    Jan 30 2025
    Russ Mould of A J Bell looks at the disruption to US AI stocks caused by the arrival onto the scene of Deep Seek. If it indeed turns out to be cheaper to train and run, then it throws an enormous spanner in the wheels of the American tech stocks. It also shows just how incredibly volatile those highly-priced shares are. Russ recalls that after previous tech bubbles burst, those stocks went into the deep freeze for long periods. In the UK most of our silicon tech stocks have been taken over so we are less affected and perhaps the inherent value of the UK market will offer some protection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    10 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Topps Tiles & 4imprint

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Topps Tiles & 4imprint
    Jan 23 2025
    Chloe Wong Yun Shing and Neil Shah of Edison Group discuss Topps Tiles which is defying the weak housing market and low consumer confidence and recently reported revenue growing again. This momentum is projected to continue, particularly if the acquisition of CTD Tiles goes ahead. They also return to 4imprint, an American company making promotional products. With excellent management and strong customer retention, it continues to be a strong performer. Being listed in the UK gives investors a rating advantage. They are top of Edison's well-regarded Illuminator Portfolio, available on their website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The attraction of gilt-edged stocks

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The attraction of gilt-edged stocks
    Jan 16 2025
    Russ Mould of A J Bell explains that private investor interest in gilts has soared of late, now that they provide a good interest rate and are relatively risk-free, providing that they are held to maturity. They are reckoning, presumably, that inflation will not rise although some of the Budget measures have yet to have their effect, while oil and international food prices are currently rising. Russ points out that the weaker pound is a potential pressure valve for the UK, with UK assets more attractive to overseas buyers. He is concerned, though, that the primary purpose of the UK stock market, to raise capital for businesses, is of far less importance than the secondary, trading, function. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    13 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Bids eroding the London market and Saba Capital

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Bids eroding the London market and Saba Capital
    Jan 9 2025
    Neil Shah of Edison Group discusses the latest bid for a UK company, Team Internet, which he discussed here recently as trading at a discount to its international peers. He points out that UK companies are vulnerable to takeover; the worry is that the UK market will keep shrinking, although he feels that value investing will return. With activist Saba Capital trying to replace the boards of 7 investment trusts, he feels that private investors must exercise their voting rights. Details are here on the AIC website. https://tinyurl.com/3ad9np9u. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: What might 2025 hold?

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: What might 2025 hold?
    Jan 2 2025
    Russ Mould of A J Bell reckons the most significant number of 2024 was 193, the number of global interest rate cuts. For the most part, markets got what they wanted last year. But at the end, bond yields were telling a different message, one which equity markets didn't believe. As for the UK market, yes it's shrinking in terms of listings but it is relatively cheap despite a decent yield, lots of buybacks and M&A activity. Looking at the top 10 performers is yet another sign that investors should always consider what is unloved and he reminds us that 2/3 of FTSE100 earnings come from overseas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: How did 2024 turn out and what to watch out for in 2025

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: How did 2024 turn out and what to watch out for in 2025
    Dec 19 2024
    Contrarian that he is, Russ Mould of A J Bell was surprised that 2024 turned out pretty much as consensus had it, though few predicted the surge in Bitcoin. Looking ahead to 2025, he wonders what might knock growth and inflation off the rails. He recommends keeping an eye on government debt (growing scarily), world trade flows and tariffs, the dollar (a trade surplus would starve the world of its reserve currency), oil and food prices (important for inflation) and the Magnificent Seven (now so large that they will affect so much else). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    12 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: A generational UK opportunity & 4imprint

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: A generational UK opportunity & 4imprint
    Dec 12 2024
    Neil Shah of Edison Group highlights research claiming there may be a generational opportunity in the UK market, extremely cheap against other markets, particularly the US. The tide in sentiment may be turning and American investors are already looking to the UK to diversify and reduce downside risk. The company highlights 20 stocks in the report. https://tinyurl.com/56sj3h4u. Neil also returns to 4imprint. It is US based, where the promotional products market is highly fragmented. Through marketing efficiency, they are growing market share. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: A decline in UK listings is not entirely negative

    The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: A decline in UK listings is not entirely negative
    Dec 9 2024
    Russ Mould of A J Bell discusses the Bloomberg piece pointing out that 45 firms have left the UK market this year through mergers and acquisitions. But is it such a bad thing that almost £50bn has gone to investors or that UK assets are both cheap and desired? It's true that the number of companies quoted in the UK has halved in 30 years but the decline has been true in the US and Australia too. We have too few tech and growth companies and too much stodge but the real problems have come from cheap debt – making riskier shares less attractive – and unduly tightened reporting requirements, making listing more laborious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins