Share Sounds. presented by Ed Bowsher

Donald Trump held his first formal news conference since July last night. In it he addressed claims that Russia has salacious information on him, and also his plans to separate himself from the Trump business organisation. For more on Trump's comments, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line by Chris Gilson, the Managing Editor of the LSE US Politics Blog.

This is Share Radio News Hour with Ed Bowsher. Shares in Marks and Spencer are climbing today after retailer's Christmas update revealed rising sales in clothing and homeware. Does this mean that M&S is finally turning round its long-troubled clothing business? Ed will find out from Richard Hunter of Wilson King Investment Management, as well as the latest fortunes of several other big retailers including Tesco, Mothercare and AO World. The FTSE is currently down just three points at 7287 following its record-breaking 12-day winning streak. For more on this, Nandini Ramkrishnan, Global Market Strategist at JP Morgan, will join Ed in the studio. After the 1:30 headlines, we'll be looking at the fallout from Donald Trump's extraordinary press conference yesterday. Ed will be speaking to Chris Gilson, managing Editor of the LSE Politics blog, for his take on that. And finally, Ed will be asking his former boss, Merryn Somerset Webb, to tell us what's in this week's edition of MoneyWeek magazine. All that and more on today's edition of the Share Radio News Hour.

More strong post-Christmas retail reporting from supermarkets Sainsbury's and Lidl, as well as House of Fraser and Ted Baker but Foxtons shares hit record low on a gloomy full year trading update while defence company Cobham shares slide on another profit warning. Jamieson Blake, Retails Sales Manager at ADS Securities London, talks through the company news with Share Radio's senior analyst Ed Bowsher.

How exactly should you be allocating your assets? It can be difficult figuring out what information you should be taking into account - whether it be government policy, interest rates, and all other manner of economic jargon. To help demystify asset allocation, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Ed Smith, Asset Allocation Strategist at Rathbone Investment Management, to find out: what exactly is asset allocation?

With only 9 days until Trump's inauguration, unverified reports that link him to Moscow have been released. The president elect has adamantly denied the reports that claim Russia sought to cultivate him with compromising personal and financial information. The FBI is currently investigating the accuracy of these allegations. For more on this, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line by US political commentator, Sanford Henry.

Income inequality in the UK is at its lowest levels in 30 years, according to fresh data from the Office for National Statistics. The figures came as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a clampdown on high pay yesterday. Kristian Niemietz, Head of Health and Welfare at the Institute of Economic Affairs, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher on the line for more analysis.

Retailers released a torrent of Christmas results today with M&S turning the tide on clothing sales. Also: - Asos bags 36% revenue jump - Weak pound helps Primark parent company Richard Hunter, Head of Research at Wilson King Investment Management, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to talk through the results.

Xavier Rolet, CEO of London Stock Exchange and Douglas Flint, chairman of HSBC, have told MPs that the City needs a three-year delay to Brexit to give businesses time to adjust to the UK's new relationship with the EU. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with David Buik, Market Commentator at Panmure Gordon, to find out if Rolet and Flint are right.

With Donald Trump about to become President, more aggressive military action against ISIS is on the agenda. But at least one MP thinks that we should focus more on hearts and minds to counter extremism. Labour MP, Liam Byrne, has just written a book on the subject called 'Black Flag down.' Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with Liam, and started by asking him how the centre left can counter extremism in 2017?

Nandini Ramkrishnan, Global Market Strategist at JP Morgan, joined Share Radio Afternoon to discuss the markets reaction to Trump's Press conference, his first as President-elect. She talked on the FTSE being down after a 12 days of gains, the longest ever winning streak for the index, Carney's view that Brexit is no longer the main risk to UK’s stability, and German GDP growth accelerating to a five-year high of 1.9 percent.