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Tim Price of Price Value Partners offers a guide to investing in uncertain times and why it is important not to judge your performance against others but in absolute terms. He explains why his fund avoids bonds but instead invests in: trend-following funds (all TFF funds made money in the dreadful markets of 2008); profitable, debt-free value stocks following the strategies of Benjamin Graham; and tangible, real, non-financial assets. He discusses the under-reporting of inflation and the problems caused by the US national debt of $35 trillion, increasing by $1 trillion every 100 days, pointing out that the UK situation is comparable. Tim's weekly commentary is available at https://www.pricevaluepartners.com/

It's been a long wait for summer this year, and we need to search for glimmers of hope as we approach the new political/economic/academic year. One such is the significant rise in Maths 'A' level entries, which will help young people find good careers. Another is the 0.25% reduction in interest rates: a cautious and close-run decision in times of considerable turbulence. Real interest rates are still 3%, so there's a long way to go. If the current rash of street riots allow it, we need to use the few weeks of summer calm to reflect on the big issues holding us back, including how to achieve a world without poverty. Background music: 'Solar Power' by Ashley Shadow

Some relief for borrowers as interest rates start to edge down — has the economy turned a corner? Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss this and the Chancellor's speech on Monday 29 July, looking ahead to the Budget in October. Also — are broadband and phone prices set to soar again?

Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta are all spending a ton of money to build out cloud capabilities to fuel the next phase of AI growth. But the market isn’t sold on that spend yet. Ron Gross and Matt Argersinger discuss why recent job numbers dramatically boosted the likelihood of a rate cut in 2024, Intel’s dividend cut, and what history has to say about companies that stop payments to shareholders, why Apple and Meta are holding up well during a tough earnings season for big tech, and Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet’s combined $45B in capital expenditures this quarter, and how investors should be thinking about this investment phase in AI. . Then, 32 minutes in, Ron and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Designer Brands and MercadoLibre. Stocks discussed: INTC, AAPL, META, AMZN, MSFT, GOOG, GOOGL, DBI, MELI. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Ron Gross, Matt Argersinger

Eaters and investors are both happy to see the $5 value meal on the menu. Asit Sharma and Dylan Lewis discuss 2024’s largest IPO – cold storage company Lineage – and whether the REIT is worth watching for investors, and McDonald’s Q2 earnings, the chain’s pivot to value-oriented menu items, and why the outlook for pinched consumers likely won’t get better any time soon. Then, 18 minutes in, CEO of Pacific Gas and Electric, Patti Poppe joins Ricky Mulvey to discuss PG&E’s turnaround and how her company is serving the growing electricity demand from data centers. Companies discussed: LINE, COLD, MCD, PCG. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Asit Sharma, Ricky Mulvey, Patti Poppe

In an interesting episode for summer holidays in the moors, woods and countryside: yes, this is about calming anxiety about unpleasant insects that burrow and bite, such as ticks. Adam Cox helps you to look at such perceived threats in a different way — to disassociate from anxiety, and to build your confidence to deal with such infestation!

James Cameron-Wilson reports on a healthy UK box office despite the hot weather. New #1 is Deadpool & Wolverine, the first Marvel film James has enjoyed in a long time. Its 15 certificate is well-deserved as it has lots of blood, beheadings and bad language and there's too much CGI combat but Ryan Reynolds' meta-banter is undeniably funny and the film is full of "Easter Eggs" for fans. The 1959 Sylvia Syms and Herbert Lom British drama No Trees in the Street is available on 4K restoration disc. Shot like an American film noir it's a poverty row drama which is a fascinating time capsule and makes you appreciate the conveniences and luxuries of modern life. Guy Ritchie's films keep going straight to streaming in the UK, including the supposedly true-life war film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. It's very Guy Ritchie, bloody with lots of OTT violence but is nonetheless a guilty pleasure.

Steve Caplin's love for Perplexity deepens. OpenAI's rival to Google is almost ready but ChatGPT apparently makes up URLs. BA's hilarious new safety video has been watched on YouTube half a milion times. Fruit – but not veg – reduces age-related depression. There's a new supermarket delivery robot, while a Japanese supermarket uses AI to standardise smiles and Simon warns about Sainsbury's illusory online offers. There are a couple of devices to help stop snoring, but one uses AI and the other electrocutes your tongue! And the Royal Mail app can now detect counterfeit stamps.

Following the Bank of England's interest rate cut Russ Mould of A J Bell discusses the positives and negatives of lower rates. He also talks about the strong flow of share buybacks in the UK, with almost £50bn announced so far this year. He explains why they aren't always a good idea and should be viewed on a case-by-case basis. Although private investors don't benefit directly, their equity stake in the company grows. With a total cash yield on the FTSE100 of 6.3% (even more with FTSE250), he feels the UK market is looking ever more attractive.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that Keir Starmer feels more like a Prime Minister than Rishi Sunak. The big themes emerging from the new government are wealth creation and growth, reducing debt and building homes. Labour's competence could pose problems for the Conservatives. Tim runs through the candidates for the Leadership, with Badenoch and Jenrick the frontrunners. But the new leader may need to purge its left wing, as Labour has, if it is to see off Reform. Reform, for its part, has huge opportunities and challenges and must modernise and professionalise if it is to become a proper, grown-up party.