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The S&P 500 rose for the 2nd week in a row, giving investors more reasons for optimism. Are we the only ones who believe the narrative for investors is shifting away from fear and towards increasing confidence? Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss investor sentiment, as well as Google striking an app-store deal with Spotify, Uber teaming up with New York City taxis, reports that Apple is developing a hardware subscription service, Darden Restaurants seeing improvement in its fine dining segment, and the latest from Berkshire-Hathaway, Adobe, and Nike. Plus - Corporate governance expert Nell Minow analyzes how public companies are doing with their communications related to Russia, and why she's unimpressed with how Starbucks' board of directors handled the latest CEO change. Then she puts on her film critic hat to offer a preview of the Academy Awards and share who will win (and should win) Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. Finally, Jason and Andy discuss Pepsi's latest limited-run flavor and share two stocks on their radar: McCormick and KB Home.

Tech maven Steve Caplin loves LEDs but even he is aghast at plans to build the world's biggest LED screen in East London. He's alarmed by a sleep app that dispenses CO2 to help you nod off. The largest scooter factory in the world is to be built in India, but will the batteries be as good as promised? There's also a "pedestrian shield" for electric scooters, Historic England's (hard to use) online map, a pocket touchpad that could help find things on TV, a folding kayak and a "breathing" cushion designed to reduce anxiety if hugged.

Hit by better weather and worries about the cost of living, cinema takings are down by 40%, says James Cameron-Wilson. New British box office entries are Catherine Tate's 'Nan' and real-life sporting drama Phantom of the Open, with Mark Rylance, which James found less than believable. Away from the sparsely-attended cinemas however, he was impressed by Fresh on Disney+, a beautifully-made genre piece about the dating scene and by Deep Water, Adrian (Fatal Attraction) Lyne's first movie in 20 years, out on Amazon Prime.

Tim Price, director of Price Value Partners, has been warning for years about the inflation danger of central banks conjuring up so much money, including in previous interviews on Share Radio. Talking to Simon Rose, he points out that in 2020, a quarter of all dollars printed since the Fed set up in 1913 were printed in that year. With red lights flashing in the bond market, spelling danger for growth stocks, he explains why value and "real" assets are so important and points out that, just as investors are looking for protection from inflation, commodities are the cheapest they've been in his entire lifetime.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, delves into the Spring Statement, assessing its significance and what the Chancellor is doing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. While the markets seemed indifferent to the Statement, it is becoming clear that the days of a "floating all boats" market are over. With increased volatility, it is now very much a stockpicker's market.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers his statement, unabridged and with no additional comment. Major initiatives include a 5p/litre cut in fuel duty for 12 months, simplification and relief for energy saving home improvements, a doubling of household support via local authorities, a £3,000 increase in the National Insurance threshold, and a promise to cut the basic rate of income tax from 20p/£ to 19p/£ by the next election; plus reform of training, R&D credits and capital-raising.

The sight of Putin seeking to rally his 'supporters' at Moscow’s Luzhynik Stadium is nothing new: the use of mass charisma as a tool for controlling people goes back millennia, and remains a major challenge for those who believe in individual liberty. This week we look at how the technique, recognised by German sociologist and political economist Max Weber as one of three tools of political domination, is used to inject a subconscious herd mentality into humanity and how, at a personal level, it can be controlled. Accompanying music is 'Russian Dance' by Joey Pecoraro

It's a hat trick. After all those years of waiting in vain for a rate rise after the financial crisis, now the Bank of England has the wind in its sails and has raised rates three times since December. The shift up in the base rate to 0.75% hardly takes rates into the stratosphere but moving from 0.1% to here in four months stands at serious odds with the lower for longer mantra that dominated the past decade and a bit of central bank thinking. It's being done to combat inflation that's now forecast to hit 8% (or maybe higher admits the Bank). The irony is that interest rate rises will do little to tackle imported inflation. So is the Bank making the right moves? Is it right to try to crack down on inflation now, or is it putting the Covid recovery at risk? And what does this mean for savers, borrowers and investors? Tanya Jefferies, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert discuss the rate hike - if you can call a quarter point rise a hike - and how much more of this may be coming down the line. Plus, what are the best shares and funds to stash in your ISA in volatile times, do you have to pay tax on a £20,000 bitcoin profit, and would you swap your device trash for cash at Currys?

You probably can’t meet with the CEO of a company on your watch list, but you have some tools to evaluate them. Motley Fool Senior Analyst John Rotonti talks with fellow analysts Auri Hughes and Alyce Lomax about how to spot great business leaders. We also break into our archives to share a 2012 interview with former Costco CEO Jim Sinegal. Both conversations discuss identifying great corporate leaders, how excellent CEOs balance stakeholder needs, and why company culture is one of the most important competitive advantages. Plus - Want more tips for evaluating a CEO? https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/08/28/esg-investing-how-to-evaluate-a-ceo-using-the-4-cs.aspx

Adam Cox is joined by Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive at the British Science Association (BSA), to discuss new research for British Science Week which shows scientists are at the top of the list of most trusted people in the country. They look at how the BSA is challenging stereotypes of science and scientists, in addition to how the public can get more involved in science for British Science Week. www.britishscienceassociation.org