Share Sounds. related to Economics - UK

To go through all the political headlines this morning with Sarah Pennells was Share Radio's Political Correspondent, Colin Bloom. They started by discussing the Prime Minister insisting she wants every part of the UK to benefit from leaving the European Union. Theresa May will go to Wales later to meet first minister Carwyn Jones. Last week the PM dismissed calls for a second independence referendum for Scotland before the Brexit deal's finalised. Plus a police team has been set up to investigate crimes against MPs looked into more than 50 complaints in the six months after the murder of Jo Cox.

Joining Sarah Pennells to discuss the latest market headlines was Share Radio's very own Nigel Cassidy, starting with the tumultuous period that Uber has been going through. In an otherwise quiet morning for company announcements, we've heard from Vodafone - they're planning a merger in India. Plus Carillion, the British multinational facilities management and construction services company have been awarded a £90 million contract by UK defence.

Since the 2014 vote, there have been sweeping changes in both the North Sea industry and to the UK's political landscape, the two most critical being the oil price plunge and last year's Brexit vote. Companies operating in the UKCS have faced a turbulent few years as they sought to survive the downturn by cutting costs to ensure cash flow. The offshore industry has been a cornerstone of the UK economy, and will play a vital role in a second referendum campaign. Nigel Cassidy was joined by Fiona Legate, senior analyst at Wood Mackenzie to discuss how, despite the oil price crash, (pre-tax) £44 billion is still attributed to fields in Scottish waters.

With the final details of the impact of Brexit on UK firms still up to two years away, British businesses are already looking to expand new markets internationally. New research by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the largest and fastest growing Free Trade Zone in the UAE, with a community of over 87,500 people, reveals that just under half (42%) of UK businesses have more appetite for overseas expansion in the post-Brexit and Trump administration era. The CEO of DMCC Gautam Sashittal is in the UK to discuss how Dubai can help British businesses looking to expand international trade post-Brexit.

The average property asking price in England and Wales is close to hitting a new all-time high. It was £310,108 this month, according to Rightmove - only £363 below last June's record high. Prices are up 2.3% from a year earlier due to strong demand and a shortage of supply. Russell Quirk, Founder and CEO of eMoov spoke to Nigel Cassidy on Rightmove's latest house price index.

According to a leading industry thinktank, retailers will struggle in 2017 as rising food price inflation leaves shoppers with less disposable income for discretionary items such as clothing and homeware. Joining to discuss with Nigel Cassidy is Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, specialists in Customer Counting, Footfall and Performance Measurement in the UK within the retail sector to discuss the latest BRC/Springboard Footfall and Vacancies monitor.

On the latest Market Wrap, former Barclays Chief Executive Bob Diamond has launched a takeover bid for stockbroker and investment bank Panmure Gordon. Housebuilder Berkley Group has today signalled strong profits after signalling that the London housing market is stabilising. All this and more with Share Radio Senior Analyst Ed Bowsher.

Welcome to the This is Money Show on Share Radio, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. After its controversial announcement last week Philip Hammond has finally had to U-turn on national insurance hikes in an attempt to win back public trust. Whilst the Budget provoked considerable backlash less publicised has been changes in road tax coming in April which will see some drivers paying as much as seven times more. Meanwhile across the pond the US Fed has raised interest rates with attention now turning to what the Bank of England will do next. Speculating on where all this leaves our finances Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Personal Finance Editor Rachel Rickard Straus. Plus is a castle, a Star Wars themed cinema and beer Fridays really what it takes to be named Britain’s best boss? This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Despite some signs of a slowdown, UK house prices have hit their most unaffordable levels ever, according to the Office for National Statistics. But is this a good sign for the economy? Plus the gig economy, should the government step in? For this and more economic news, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Michael Bell, Global Market Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Research released by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) suggests that long-term business investment is set to shrink on the back of Brexit uncertainty. The long wait to see Theresa May trigger Article 50 and start Brexit negotiations has created much uncertainty among businesses, meaning they've put on the brakes when it comes to investment. Simon Thompson, ICAEW Business and Economic Spokesperson, joined Nigel Cassidy on Share Radio Breakfast to discuss the key points from the forecast.