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With no big new releases, James Cameron-Wilson explains that the UK box office is down 36%, with Back to Black still #1. At #5 is horror film Abigail about a kidnapped ballerina. Extremely gory, it is also increasingly clichéd. James was impressed by Sometimes I Think About Dying at #19, a minimalist drama in which Daisy Ridley is a shy loner. Nuanced, it makes the audience work but is moving and sticks in the memory. Out for home viewing is 1951's A Lavender Hill Mob, with Alec Guinness a meek bank clerk with nefarious ambitions. The beautifully-restored disc is packed with fascinating extras. It is a must, says James.

After starting the year no higher than it was in 2018, Russ Mould tells Simon Rose why the FTSE 100-Share Index hit a record high. The best cure for low prices, he explains, is low prices. The currency is cheap for overseas investors thanks to Brexit, hence so much takeover activity, dividends are reasonably healthy and, with buybacks taken into account, the index is effectively yielding more than 7%. He suggests we might be moving into a period where the UK market, so long out of favour, might possess big advantages, though there are many "ifs" and "buts" about it.

In a once-in-a-billion-year happening two lifeforms have merged into one organism, says Steve Caplin. Post Office staff are using Google to tell if stamps are counterfeit. Whatsapp is being switched off in China and TikTok in the US. There's a flamethrower dog, an omnidirectional bike, a cat self-groomer and a way of putting your ex's love letters behind you. We also learn why NASA can't find out if there's life on Mars and hear why Microsoft won't release its way of producing realistic talking AI videos from a single photo.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses the report that higher-rate Scottish taxpayers have been heading south, explaining that it shows the truth of the Laffer Curve in action. He highlights the Basque Region's Mondragon Experiment which, in showing that there is a different way of running businesses, is effectively socialism without the state. Could it offer a future direction for the NHS? And he wonders how an increase in the UK's defence spending, announced by the Prime Minister, could work with so many other urgent calls on the public purse.

In so many respects the news that greets us each day seems devoid of logic and reason. Whether it's international conflict, short-termist governments or the denial of reality, we are led to believe that we can walk on water indefinitely and set aside intellectual thought. But the biggest challenge is to bring logic and reason into the public square for young people, at a time when their perspectives have been stunted by the pandemic and social media. It is this new generation which will have to deal with the mess we're leaving behind: let's help them to participate actively. Background music: 'Intellect' by Yung Logos

Earnings are in full swing! We’ve got updates from the industry leaders in streaming, banking, chips and real estate – but strong numbers aren’t always turning into positive market reactions. Ron Gross and Matt Argersinger discuss whether investors should be buying Netflix’s “pay attention to this, not that”, what Taiwan Semi’s results say about chips and why investors are up on United Health despite the company’s recent cybersecurity issues, and the state of banking and brokerages, and why the current macro is confusing for everyone, even management at industrial REIT Prologis. Then, 19 minutes in, Malcolm Ethridge, CFP and author of Financial Independence Doesn't Happen by Accident, walks through money conversations you should be having during financial literacy month and why he’s watching cybersecurity. Finally, 36 minutes in, Ron and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Five Below and UPS. Stocks discussed: NFLX, TSMC, UNH, BAC, GS, MS, SCHW, PLD, BUG, CIBR, UPS, FIVE. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Matt Argersinger, Ron Gross, Malcolm Ethridge

Deal-making is back, and the banks are loving it. Asit Sharma and Ricky Mulvey discuss why Bank of America’s $1.5 billion in net charge-offs can be forgiven by investors, a long comeback for wealth management at Merrill Lynch, and IMAX’s cash flow story and the future of movie theaters. Plus, 16 minutes in, Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp answer listener questions about tracking investments, leveraged shares, and life insurance. Stocks/tickers mentioned: BAC, MS, IMAX, AMZU, NVDU, SOXL. Host - Ricky Mulvey; Guests - Asit Sharma, Robert Brokamp, Alison Southwick

Young people often find coping with tough decisions, or being evaluated, challenging. Adam Cox taps into the qualities of Messi to show that they can be emulated — a strong work ethic, the courage to make tough decisions, resilience to bounce back from failures: he explains how to connect with these, and how to use them as an anchor. The episode could help young people approaching exam season, or experiencing tough times at school.

How long before inflation reaches 2% — and could record rainfall send food prices soaring? The new ISA comes in, but will your bank provide access? Plus — Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Angharad Carrick discuss how much supermarkets charge for a bag, and what they get out of it. Also — Woodford is back ...

Neil Shah of Edison Group looks at the 1st quarter trading update from Foxton's which, with a new management team, is undergoing a turnaround. It's a great brand, underpinned by good IT and data. It is a stable business (particularly lettings) with low risk on the downside which might have a great upside if press comments about it being sold are borne out. More esoteric is the Seraphim Space Investment Trust, which invests in companies exposed to the space industry, where the private sector is bringing down the cost of launching items into space. The price has risen, boosted to some extent by the prospect of increased defence spending. But the portfolio is maturing and profitability is coming through from many of its investments. It's a way to get exposure to space through a team of experts.