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The Bank of England held base rate once again at 5.25%, the fourth hold in succession – but this time, it was a genuine split by MPC members. So, when will we start seeing rates fall – and will inflation really be at the target 2% by April? Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss what another interest rate pause means for you – and what that means for savings and mortgage rates, along with investors. Where do you stand on the smart meter debate? With This is Money readers getting in touch to say they’re stuck with faulty devices, are they worth having? Lee says he still has no plans to get one of the marmite devices while Simon believes they can be worth it, especially for those who are rubbish at submitting meter readings. We also go back to school and have a maths lesson from Mr Lambert to reveal the six real world calculations you should have in your arsenal to improve your financial health. And we get on the money therapist’s couch to discuss the pitfalls of getting - and over-using - a joint bank account… should a partner ever be made to feel guilty for spending?

A big week of debuts in tech – Apple’s Vision Pro hits shelves and Meta unveils a new plan for its cash. Bill Mann and Jason Moser discuss Apple’s Vision Pro, Meta’s new dividend, and how the cloud keeps performing for Microsoft and Amazon, and why New York Community Bank’s woes don’t signal broader banking issues, but the liquidation of Evergrande could mean more pain ahead in China. Then, 19 minutes in, Will Lansing, CEO of FICO, talks through his team’s management philosophy, why investors should focus on more than just the company’s scoring business, and the way AI and buy-now-pay-later are affecting the credit industry. Finally, 36 minutes in, Jason and Bill break down two stocks on their radar: Estee Lauder and Etsy. Stocks discussed: AAPL, META, MSFT, AMZN, NYCB, EL, ETSY. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Tim Beyers, Mary Long, Ryan Henderson

Flutter Entertainment, the owner of FanDuel, entered the New York Stock Exchange with imressive revenue growth. But, what’s driving it? Ricky Mulvey and Jim Gillies discuss what to watch as big tech companies report, concentration in the Magnificent Seven, questions about Flutter Entertainment’s share count and debt load and the switching incentives in sports betting. Plus, 15 minutes in, Robert Brokamp continues his conversation with Michael Finke, a professor of wealth management and the Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security at The American College of Financial Services. They discuss the key factors for a happy retirement. Companies discussed: AAPL, MSFT, FLUT. Hosts - Ricky Mulvey, Robert Brokamp; Guests - Jim Gillies, Michael Finke

Adam Cox helps with building a positive mindset for long-term health conditions, but the episode also provides an interesting analogy with national economic recovery after the twin shocks of Brexit and the pandemic. He explains how impatience in expecting instant recovery is not helpful, that it's unrealistic to expect to 'wake up and find everything back to normal instantly'. Healing is not binary: it's slow and steady, and an appreciation that 'progress is more important than perfection' leads to a mindset of optimism and possibility. Isn't that just what we need as a nation?

Adam Cox is in conversation with Paul Saroya from Viva Retirement Solutions, delving into the topic of equity release and its nuances. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of equity release, considering its transformations over the years. The discussion extends to alternative solutions that individuals should ponder before making a decision. Paul offers insights on identifying the suitable candidates for equity release and emphasises the importance of thorough research before opting for this financial strategy. https://www.vivaretirementsolutions.co.uk/

Adam Cox is in conversation with Lucy Standing, a chartered psychologist and the founder of Brave Starts, addressing the widespread problem of age discrimination within the UK workforce. Together, they delve into the challenges encountered by individuals over the age of 45 in their job searches and explore strategies for employers to make job opportunities more inclusive for older individuals. Lucy also sheds light on the repercussions of the absence of older workers in the UK workforce and provides insights into Brave Starts, outlining its mission to assist individuals over 45 in advancing their careers. https://www.bravestarts.com/

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University explains why he so enjoyed new Argentine President Javier Milei lecturing the great and good of the World Economic Forum about libertarian and Austrian economics, attacking corporatism and socialism. He feels Milei could be the most consequential politician economically-speaking for many years. He also looks at falling EV car sales, lamenting the way in which politicians set goals for achieving their hobbyhorses irrespective of scientific progress and consumer demand. And he is fascinated by a meeting between journalist John Humphreys and members of Gen Z, which showed them to be different to the popular perception.

James Cameron-Wilson says UK box office is down another 21%. While Mean Girls is #1 but fading, garlanded UK low-budget 4-hander All Of Us Strangers from Andrew Haigh is #2 with £1.1m. Andrew Scott is outstanding in a mesmerising, original film about a gay writer. He was less complimentary about the musical version of The Color Purple at #8, with the showstopping tunes at odds with the dark underlying material. Restored for home video, 1960's Peeping Tom, a voyeuristic film from Michael Powell about a killer, might have destroyed his reputation but, thanks to Martin Scorsese, it's now recognised as a misunderstood classic and quite playful and witty at times. The bonus material is terrific.

40 years after Apple introduced the Macintosh computer, Steve Caplin points out the company has overtaken Samsung in the number of smartphones sold. Elon Musk's Neuralink has implanted a chip into a human skull for the first time. Google Lumiere's video creation AI appears to be astounding in what it can do. So too is the Rabbit, a beermat-sized device to replace multiple taps on your phone. A vacuuming app shows where you've missed. You can make your own Postit Notes, but why would you? Phantom VR gloves might have solved the problems of tactile feedback using VR. And Amazon plans to socially network its smart video doorbells.

After quickly discussing what he found most interesting about the MPC's decision to hold interest rates, Russ Mould looks at A J Bell's 10th annual examination of analysts' research. He reveals that they are more bullish than ever, with 62% recommending buys and just 7% sells. This, he feels, is reasonable, given the long-term underperformance of the FTSE 100 Index. Pointing out the most popular shares, he also digs into what lies behind an analyst's recommendations and why they're better off not simply following the herd.