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We like stocks. We also like exchange traded funds (ETFs). But first, Ricky Mulvey and Jim Gillies discuss a difficult stretch for small-cap stocks, Costco’s new healthcare offering, and one piece of Costco’s valuation that’s often forgotten by investors. Plus, Robert Brokamp and Alison Southwick find out how Fools use ETFs in their portfolios. Companies/ETFs mentioned: COST, CIBR. Hosts - Ricky Mulvey, Alison Southwick; Guests - Jim Gillies, Robert Brokamp, Kirsten Guerra, Jason Moser, Bill Mann

When your information is everywhere, is it possible to rein it back in? Deidre Woollard caught up with Tom Kemp, a cybersecurity expert and author of “Containing Big Tech: How to Protect our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy.” They discuss the implications of biometric data collection in a world where big tech runs rampant, which companies are getting the privacy game right (and wrong), Angel investing, and workarounds to weak links in existing cybersecurity systems. Tickers discussed: META, AAPL, AMZN, GOOG, GOOGL, MSFT. Host - Deidre Woollard; Guest - Tom Kemp

This episode is about inter-generational scarring, how it's possible to come to terms with it — and how to be aware of the risk that it can cascade through the generations if left unresolved. The challenges experienced by those with disrupted childhoods can result in undesirable coping strategies and constant struggles to prove one's worth. Adam Cox discusses how to contend with the absence of guidance or role models, using the imagery of the tesseract (the generalization of a cube to four dimensions: a concept in geometry and mathematics that serves to illustrate higher dimensions. Tesseracts are a way of showing how the fourth dimension relates to the third). Image source: Wikipedia

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University laments the profligacy of Government and the failure of the Bank of England to get a grip on inflation. He compares it to the disastrous mid-70s, saying the Bank is failing badly. He looks at the shifting sands of HS2 and climate policy, explaining why the UK is so bad at infrastructure. And he finds a positive in the fact that so many people are choosing to continue to work beyond conventional retirement age.

James Cameron-Wilson laments the current state of the UK box office, down 20% WOW & 35% YOY. He hates Expendables 4, limping in at #2 wth a mere £760,000. Paul Dano stars in Dumb Money, #5, about the Gamestop story. However, James found it utterly baffling and felt he'd already seen the film after watching the trailer. He was, however, very impressed by Flora & Son on Apple TV, an Irish film from the director of Once, Begin Again and Sing Street, about the transformative power of music. He ends with a tribute to the late Sir Michael Gambon.

Russ Mould of A J Bell discusses share buybacks. Long popular in the United States, he notes that they are currently down by a fifth YOY, pointing out that previous peaks coincided with market tops. In the UK, many of our biggest companies have engaged in buybacks, particularly in the financial field. With the FTSE yielding 3.9%, buybacks are adding another 2.3%. While private investors don't usually participate directly, their equity stake rises. Russ explains the ins and outs of share buybacks from a private investor's point of view.

Steve Caplin talks tech with Simon Rose. Alexa is to become more conversational while Meta has launched smart Ray-Ban glasses with AI. A website will show you the grisly details of medieval murders, while Swedish scientists believe they can resurrect a carnivorous marsupial from Tasmania. Mini launches its first eBike while there are improvements to car roof boxes and head torches. While Amazon is trying to limit the number of AI-written books, the US Copyright Office has ruled that art created with AI can not be copyrighted.

After the December 2019 election, Dominic Cummings brought HM Treasury under the heel of No. 10. Little did he realise that in 2023 the financiers would be running the whole show. Rishi Sunak, financier par excellence, thinks he is making long-term decisions for a brighter future. Not everyone agrees: but then a week is a long time in politics — or finance, come to that. Background music: 'Something Is Wrong' by Sir Cubworth Image source: BBC

And suddenly they stopped. After 14 interest rate rises in a row, the Bank of England stalled and kept base rate on hold. A lower than expected inflation number and slew of economic reports indicating the heat was being taken out of the economy were credited with staying the Monetary Policy Committee's hand. So, will 5.25% now be the peak for base rate or could rates once again start to head higher from here? And what does the Bank of England's decision to pause mean for savings rates and mortgage rates? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss why interest rates were held, what nudged inflation down, what could happen next and what all this means for savers, borrowers and investors. Plus, what does the government rowing back on Net Zero plans mean for electric cars, EPCs and how we heat our homes? And finally, if your neighbours can see into your garden and you don't like it, can you just stick up a very tall fence or do you need planning permission (and risk triggering a neighbourly battle)?

Interest rates are paused but the hikes may not be over yet. Bill Mann and Deidre Woollard discuss what metrics the Fed is looking at before its next meeting, how FedEx’s business has evolved over time, and the traits a good chief financial officer should have. Then, 15 minutes in, Tom King and Deidre Woollard explore how TransMedics is building a complete organ transplantation supply chain. Companies discussed: FDX, UPS, TMDX. Host - Deidre Woollard; Guests - Bill Mann, Tom King