Share Sounds. from Share Radio Afternoon

Europe's equity markets are trading higher, helped by a busy year-end for corporate deal making and further signs that Italy is making progress on shoring up its weak banking sector. However, business is taking place against an uncertain backdrop, underscored by the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey and the murder of 12 people at a Christmas market in Berlin which police have described as a "probable terrorist attack". Concerns about Greece have also emerged on the financial radar after the US credit ratings agency Moody's said the country is about to enter a troubling new phase in its seven year old debt crisis. For more analysis, Share Radio's Juliette Foster was joined on the line by Jasper Lawlor, senior market analyst at London Capital Group.

It's been an extraordinary by any standards for central banks. Resistant growth in inflation, political instability and extreme fluctuations with the price of oil mean that chairs of central banks across the world face a unique and suitably dangerous set of circumstances. To look back on the year for monetary policy, former Bank of England committee member and Emeritus Professor of Banking and Finance at the London School of Economics Charles Goodhart joined Ed Bowsher in studio.

Welcome to the Share Radio News Hour with Ed Bowsher. Sainsbury's shares are climbing today after the company's Christmas update beat expectations. Ed will be speaking with Ben Kumar from 7 Investment about the retailer, as well as why the UK's trade deficit has risen yet again. While the FTSE continues to rise today, shares in Foxtons have hit a record low on a gloomy full year trading update. Ed will be getting insight into what's gone with wrong from Jamieson Blake at ADS Securities. They'll be chatting about several other top company stories too. And in the second half of the hour, we'll be looking at the latest developments on Donald Trump's alleged relationship with Russia. US political commentator, Sanford Henry, will give us his take. Plus, Ed will be speaking to Labour MP, Liam Byrne, about his new book 'Black Flag down'. It's about how the centre left can combat extremism. All that and more on today's edition of the Share Radio News Hour.

Jeremy Corbyn has backed a cap on "high earners" in an attempt to combat increasing income inequity. These comments come ahead of his speech later today to members of the Labour party, where he is expected to signal a shift in migration policy. For his thoughts on the Labour Leader's comments, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line by John Ashmore, Chief reporter for Politics Home.

Welcome to Emerging Opportunities, our chance to spend half an hour in some of the farther flung investment markets. Joining Simon Rose in the studio was Gavin Serkin managing editor of the Frontier Funds Consultancy, and the author of 'Frontier: Exploring the Top Ten Emerging Markets of Tomorrow'. Their guest on the show today was Aberdeen Asset Management's emerging markets fixed income money manager Kevin Daly, for a insight into the latest news and moves in emerging markets.

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.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today announced her proposals to keep the country in the European single market. The first minister says Scottish membership of the European Economic area and European Free Trade Association would allow it to stay part of the UK but still enjoy single market access. She previously suggested there could be another independence referendum if the proposals are dismissed by the UK Government - but she doesn't think that'll happen. For more analysis, Share Radio's Juliette Foster was joined on the line by Maurice Smith, Share Radio's Scotland Correspondent.

FTSE's strength continues while the pound falls on the back of new UK trade figures, Sainsbury's reports Christmas growth and what will the market expect following Trump's first press conference since his election? That and more as Share Radio's Ed Bowsher speaks with Ben Kumar, Investment Manager at Seven Investment Management.

This is the Weeks Update - our catch-up with Share Radio's economic commentator Professor John Weeks. Inaugurations mark new chapters in American politics. When a would-be president steps up to take the Oath of Office, the entire country is meant to step up with them. Wounds of the campaign season should be healed, while attention turns to the road ahead. It's perhaps unprecedented though, for a ceremony to be shadowed by fears that the road may have been chosen by a foreign power. Donald Trump begins his presidency amidst allegations from all of America's intelligence agencies of Russian electoral inference. And yet it was only last week that Trump budged on continued scepticism of the US intelligence community's conclusions. Should the intelligence community - both in the US and here in the UK - be nervous about the new President's arrival? And what exactly does Russia want? As well as Professor Weeks, Share Radio's Simon Rose was joined by Sir David Omand, a former head of GCHQ, now visiting professor at King's College, London and a former UK Intelligence and Security Coordinator.

Donald Trump's promise to create more jobs played well with crowds especially in regions hit hard by the decline of their manufacturing industries. In Mr Trump's world America can only restore its economic greatness by re-negotiating trade accords which have yielded it few, if any, real benefits. To achieve this would mean taking on the likes of China, which the new president elect claims has abused its position to flood the market with cheap goods. With Mr Trump now gearing up to take possession of the White House, how is he planning to make America a top manufacturer, and does that mean risking a trade war with China? For more analysis, Share Radio's Juliette Foster was joined by Professor John Weeks, Share Radio's regular economics commentator.