Share Sounds

Energy bills are going up in January and are expected to rise again in April, with the push for net zero being partly to blame: but could the hated standing charge be on the way out? Also, with many people opting for cash this Christmas, half of us are having trouble paying in notes and coins — should the Government step in? The team also discuss neighbourly disputes over fences, the best way to give money, and Lee Boyce continues to hold onto his premium bonds.

2024 was another stellar year for investors, but a lot of money is piling into the same places in the U.S. and globally. Bill Mann and Matt Argersinger discuss why 2024 was such a good year for investors, and the concerns they have about valuations and market concentration as they look ahead to 2024, plus the winners and losers of 2024 and the front-page stories you may have forgotten about – the Crowdstrike outage and Yen Carry Trade. Then, 19 minutes in, James Zahn, Editor in Chief at The Toy Book, talks through the toys at the top of wish lists this holiday season and how toymakers and retailers are trying bring value to cash-strapped shoppers. James Zahn’s now-published article on Moxie: https://toybook.com/death-of-moxie-and-the-trouble-with-tech-toys/. Finally, 34 minutes in, Bill and Matt break down two ideas on their radar: Nebius and Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield. Stocks discussed: NVDA, NBIS, FYLD. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Tim Beyers, Mary Long, Ryan Henderson

As if everything weren’t already enough, Amazon now sells cars. Asit Sharma and Mary Long discuss disruptions to traditional car dealerships. Amazon’s next potential venture, and the rise and fall of GM’s driverless ambitions. Then, 19 minutes in, Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey look at Aercap, an airline leasing company that sees debt as a “raw material.” Companies discussed: AMZN, CVNA, HYMTF, GM, GOOG, GOOGL, AER. Host - Mary Long; Guests - Asit Sharma, Ricky Mulvey, Jim Gillies

If you’re hosting a Christmas bash this year, it’s never been more important to make sure you’re catering to everyone’s dietary requirements and food preferences – and not serving up something that could result in an allergic reaction. But is food labelling and nutritional information clear enough? New research from the public health organisation, NSF, suggests many of us would like things to be a little easier to understand. Joining Adam Cox to discuss this is Katie Glover – food regulations and trading law expert. https://www.nsf.org/

Having resolved the anxiety that can follow a relationship break-up, it's time to look forward. But what sort of person might be right for you? Adam Cox helps by focusing on the missing piece of a puzzle, looking for the characteristics of a complementary fit which will be right for both parties.

James Cameron-Wilson celebrates UK box office being up 38% YoY with 5 films taking £1m. With no new films to review, he turns to the 1954 Edward G. Robinson gangster film noir Black Tuesday. Banned in the UK for its violence, it has been restored on Blu-Ray. Packed with superb extras, it is a forgotten masterpiece. He found Beatles '64, a documentary about the Fab Four on Disney+, slick and engaging. And Simon recommended a glorious garage in Derbyshire where they have restored a Compton cinema organ called Pipes in the Peaks, having attended four concerts there this year.

Neil Shah of Edison Group highlights research claiming there may be a generational opportunity in the UK market, extremely cheap against other markets, particularly the US. The tide in sentiment may be turning and American investors are already looking to the UK to diversify and reduce downside risk. The company highlights 20 stocks in the report: https://tinyurl.com/56sj3h4u. Neil also returns to 4imprint. It is US based, where the promotional products market is highly fragmented. Through marketing efficiency, they are growing market share.

Steve Caplin updates Simon Rose on the latest tech. Sadly, OpenAI video generator Sora won't be available in the UK. However, Google's GenCast could soon be predicting weather more accurately while its quantum chip can do in 5 minutes what the fastest computers would take 10 septillion years, threatening the safety of encryption. The VR DropTower will give gamers an enhanced experience, including turning them upside down. A podcast lists the top 100 tech achievements: can you guess the top 5? A bed rocker imitates the motion of a train. A new security robot resembles a football. There's a thermal imaging camera that will plug into a phone. The Tank Pad adds ruggedness for tablet users in difficult environments. And Mercedes have developed solar paint to add range to your EV.

Tim Price of Price Value Partners explains why, despite the US market's Trump optimism, US debt has gone from a problem to a predicament. Most western governments are technically bankrupt but Tim points out that, contrary to popular belief, there is no real link between economies and stock markets. He explains his investment philosophy which stresses the importance of not losing money, ignoring the latest hot thing like the tech sector and investing in real assets such as gold and silver, now 20 years into a bull run. Silver, he says, is essential for industry and the green revolution but demand is greater than is being mined. He discusses long-term inflation and why he feels money is too important to be messed about with by central bankers and politicians.

Dame Julia Hoggett is Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, and featured in a half-page interview in The Sunday Times Business last weekend. She is a strong advocate for encouraging personal share ownership, which demonstrates clearly how a sense of responsibility builds from individual ownership: this is also particularly evident in employee share ownership. The correlation between ownership and responsibility at an individual level throughout society needs to be more fully understood and supported by business and politicians. Background music: 'Waiting' by Andrew Langdon