Share Sounds

In the old days we either telephoned someone for a quick answer to a question, or sent a letter which focused the attention of the recipient. Now huge volumes of emails fly across the net, and we're left waiting days for an answer. It may be cheap, but is it productive? Also — People think that debit cards are as safe as credit cards or direct debit authorities — until something goes wrong. And, if it's a continuous payment authority given to an overseas supplier, there's very limited protection available, beyond FCA guidance. Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis

The Autumn Statement was the definition of a mixed bag. There was a National Insurance cut, but the stealth income tax raid continued. The ISA system got an improvement, but the allowance remained frozen. Meanwhile, the triple lock was delivered along with a pension pot-for-life plan but inheritance tax remains firmly uncut at 40%, with all its weird quirks intact. So, was that an Autumn Statement to fire Britain on to growth, as the Chancellor claimed, or a damp squib? Georgie Frost, Tanya Jefferies, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert dive into the details to reveal what the Autumn Statement means for you and the economy. From the Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts to being allowed multiple ISAs and the seemingly mad plan of allowing family homes to be easily converted to flats, the team take the measure of Jeremy Hunt’s plans. And they look ahead to whether there will be more tax cuts to come in the Budget – and whether Britain’s stealth tax and marginal tax trap mess will ever get sorted.

Uppercase, lowercase, doesn’t matter. Nvidia and OpenAI are the ones to watch in artificial intelligence. Asit Sharma and Dylan Lewis discuss Nvidia’s epic quarter and the market’s ho-hum response, the OpenAI drama, corporate governance, and how they’re making their turkeys this Thanksgiving. Companies discussed: NVDA, MSFT. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guest - Asit Sharma

Zoom’s slow revenue increase may show how the company is changing. Asit Sharma and Deidre Woollard discuss why Zoom is more than a videoconferencing company, what happens when a company’s growth slows, and how big-ticket item sales are impacting Lowe’s and Best Buy. Then, 15 minutes in, Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp share some financial gratitude from a motley collection of Fools. Companies discussed: ZM, NOW, CMG, LOW, AMZN, HD, BBY. Claim your dividend report here: www.fool.com/dividends. Host - Deidre Woollard; Guests - Asit Sharma, Robert Brokamp, Alison Southwick

Adam Cox is in conversation with Lavanya Bhandari, the founder of Ecoroots, delving into alarming data indicating that the average person now consumes 100 microplastics in each meal, a consequence of the significant presence of macro and microplastics in our water sources. Lavanya sheds light on Mycelium, an alternative material, and elucidates the advantages of opting for it over traditional plastic. Additionally, she discusses why the brand is actively seeking more farmers to contribute their agricultural waste to support their cause. https://www.ecoroot.co/

Over-consumption in the present can lead to an undesireable future. Whether excess eating or drinking is caused by stress or anything else, there's no point in devaluing your future, risking the loss of energy or confidence and increased exposure to illness and medical problems. So in this episode Adam sets a new cross-roads symbolism for weighing up those choices, and helps to build a more positive outlook. In a sense, that's what the whole country needs to do as we struggle with the legacy of having committed £400 billion for getting through the pandemic. All that money spent on furlough and other measures have escalated the public sector debt pile to levels which point to a seriously undesirable future for the years ahead, but are stealth taxes the way to build a more positive outlook?

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University thnks that the Autumn Statement is one of the final suicide notes of this administration. Examining the small print reveals the biggest drop in living standards since records began in the 1950s and the big picture is bleak. He even wonders whether the Conservatives may soon no longer be seen as the natural party of government. He is fascinated by the success of anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei in Argentina and wonders how many of his ideas he will be able to enact. And he looks ahead to the next election, He feels that, if there's a hung parliament, the LibDems may yet get proportional representation which could hugely benefit Nigel Farage.

James Cameron-Wilson found Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes confusing and poorly made, though the new #1 helped box office rise 54% with a £5.4m take. Nor was he as enthusiastic as many critics about Saltburn, Emerald Fennell's darkly comic tale of aristocratic mayhem, though he did like Rosamund Pike's and Richard E Grant's performances, as well as the score. However, he loved the new NT Live screening of David Hare's play Skylight with Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy, which he found insightful, funny and profound. On Netflix, he recommends David Fincher's procedural The Killer with Michael Fassbinder, which is beautifully filmed and very clever.

Steve Caplin takes Simon Rose through the drama of OpenAI's Sam Altman being sacked and then reinstated. Microsoft have an animated avatar that may make deepfakes even easier. Shipworms, which eat wooden boats, could be cultivated to be a fish substitute as a solution to overfishing. The Slow Ways walking app should benefits walkers everywhere, rural and urban. Logitech have produced an impressive articulating webcam. And, because they can, the US Marine Corps have created a robot dog with an anti-tank rocket launcher.

On Wednesday 22nd November '23 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons, focused on restoring UK economic growth. This is his full, unabridged speech as delivered, without commentary.