Share Sounds. related to Shares

Vodafone's confirmation that it's in talks to merge its Indian subsidiary with a rival have triggered a 2% rise in the share price. Meanwhile shares in engineering firm, WS Atkins are up 5% after an American firm made a takeover approach. And German inflation data is out - is this good news for the key European economy? Ken Odeluga, market analyst at City Index, joined Ed Bowsher to discuss the big economic and company stories of the day.

Rachel Winter, Senior Investment Manager at stockbroker Killik & Co, joined Share Radio Breakfast before and after the market open at 8am, to look at who’s been reporting, how those companies are faring, and how the FTSE has opened.

Tesco's announced a £3.7bn planned merger with Booker group, a wholesaler and owner of Budgens and Londis convenience store brands, where are share prices today? While in the US, Google's parent company Alphabet reported Q4 profits were worse than expected but sales were up - and Starbucks failed to meet same store sales expectations. Carla Mozée, Markets Reporter at MarketWatch, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to talk through today's big company stories.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. We’re still on course for Brexit, albeit pending Parliament’s approval. Already a number of banks seem intent on following through on their threats to relocate jobs, but what about the local branches already shutting down across the UK? Meanwhile the FTSE continues to soar on the back of the slumping pound but questions remain as to the underlying health of the UK economy. Inflation also looks set to rise as does national debt although the latest GDP figures do offer some good news at least. To discuss how people can save and invest for the turbulent times ahead Georgie Frost is joined in the studio by Editor Simon Lambert and Deputy Editor Adrian Lowrey. Plus just when BT thought their problems couldn’t get any worse we’ll be announcing the results of the annual Money Mail Wooden Spoon Awards. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Britain's economy grew by 2 % in 2016 but will the growth continue into 2017? While in Europe, Spain backs early trade talks in Brexit negotiations. And the Royal Bank of Scotland has earmarked a further $3.8bn (£3.1 billion) to cover US fines for mis-selling subprime mortgage securities, taking the total figure to £6.7bn. Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets, spoke to Share Radio's Ed Bowsher on these and all the day's big economic news.

WH Smith shares were up on a good trading update with sales of funny 'spoof books' helping the stationer. Shares in Restaurant Group, the company behind chains Frankie and Benny's and Garfunkel's, were down as it reported lower like-for-like sales last year. Tesco faces new lawsuit from US Investment firm, Manning & Napier, which is suing the supermarket over an earlier accounting irregularities. And miners BHP Billiton and Antofagasta reported on good results today. Chris Bailey, founder of Financial Orbit, joined Ed Bowsher, Share Radio's senior analyst to discuss these and more.

Britain's manufacturers are 'firing on all cylinders' - that's what the Confederation of British Industry says in its latest report - but will it last? Three of the five biggest shareholders in FTSE 350 firms have vowed to get tough on executive pay. And in the US, Donald Trump has approved two oil pipelines, is the Trump bump back? Ben Kumar from 7 Investment Management analyses the latest economic news with Share Radio's Ed Bowsher.

Emerging Opportunities with Gavin Serkin and Simon Rose, is dedicated to global, emerging and frontier markets. This week they talk to Farrukh Khan, senior director of business development at Acumen - a pioneer of investing with social impact. Gavin Serkin is managing editor of the Frontier Funds Consultancy and author of Frontier: Exploring the Top Ten Emerging Markets of Tomorrow.

Oil prices rose this week on evidence on news that production from OPEC is falling, but an increase in drilling in the United States could keep a lid on prices. Fergus Marcroft, Senior Advisor to investment bank Hannam & Partners, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to explain.

BT shares slumped as the telecoms giant warned again on profits following the Italian accounting scandal, Easyjet results softer on weak pound but strong Christmas sales for Dixons Carphone and posh tonic water company Fever-Tree bubbles along. All the big company news of the day with Financial Times deputy companies editor Daniel Thomas and Share Radio's senior analyst Ed Bowsher.