Investors Chronicle

On this week's Alpha podcast John Hughman talks to the IC's private investor diarist John Rosier about maintaining discipline in choppy markets, why he's eyeing value as his next move, and why doing nothing may sometimes be the best option.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a year like no other, it is hardly surprising that the US presidential election has, so far, been like no other.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A global pandemic, a US election and the UK’s Brexit transition period drawing to a close are having a profound effect on the markets. IG’s Jeremy Naylor and Senior Economist Peter Dixon from Commerzbank discuss what impact they may have on the dollar and sterling, and what other currencies we should be keeping an eye on.Inspired? Find your next opportunity at IG.comRisk warningSpread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nick Train hates selling companies so much that he can’t quite remember which stock he sold last. In this wide ranging interview, he explains how this strategy has helped his funds outperform in a difficult year and answers the big question: why do you continue to hold Pearson?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha Podcast John Hughman and Phil Oakley talk about three companies where the power of their trusted brands matters more than ever – Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and Games Workshop.In his column this week, Phil looks at how Games Workshop profit forecasts are probably too low. He says this and the long-term potential of its brands can keep its share price moving up. Click here to read.If you don't subscribe to Alpha already, you can sign up for a four-week trial for just £4 by clicking on the following link: investorschronicle.co.uk/TryAlpha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UK is in a puppy frenzy. The loneliness of lockdown, combined with the realisation that working from home is likely to last a long time saw demand spike. Average puppy prices have doubled.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we speak with the economist and broadcaster Tim Harford, presenter of More or Less on BBC Radio 4 and the podcast Cautionary Tales, a Financial Times columnist and author of several books including The Undercover Economist, Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy, and Messy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's IC Alpha Podcast John and Phil discuss how online shopping has transformed Dunelm's business, whether Asos can shake off the economic challenges affecting its core customer base, and why Domino's troubles are far from behind it.If you don't subscribe to Alpha already, you can sign up for a four-week trial for just £4 by clicking on the following link: investorschronicle.co.uk/TryAlpha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The IC interviews Richard Curtis, prolific screen writer and co-founder of Make My Money Matter  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha podcast editor John Hughman talks to the IC's small cap specialist Simon Thompson about the outlook for global stock markets and the strategies he's using to identify companies fit for the Covid era.Click here to read Simon's latest Investors Chronicle column.If you don't subscribe to Alpha already, you can sign up for a four-week trial for just £4 by clicking on the following link: investorschronicle.co.uk/TryAlpha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boohoo’s ethical misdemeanours have not translated to poor sales or share price growth. But could the environmental and social concerns raised by the company’s recent enquiry have repercussions across the garment industry?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UK dividend bloodbath has been one of the major challenges facing investors in 2020 and the outlook remains far from certain. Blake Hutchins, co-manager of Trojan Income, a defensive and highly successful UK equity income fund, is well acquainted with all these issues. In this interview he tells us why there may still be hope for UK equity income, but also why investors do need to be more selective than ever to succeed in this market.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha podcast, John and Phil head to the shops to see which retailers are surviving – and even thriving – in the face of the pandemic. If you don't subscribe to Alpha already, you can sign up for a four week trial for just £4 by clicking on the following link: investorschronicle.co.uk/TryAlpha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are we ever going back to the office? Will working life return to normal when the threat of coronavirus has passed? How will businesses in the hospitality and travel sectors survive?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's IC Alpha Podcast John and Phil talk about two companies in the travel sector that have borne the brunt of Covid-19 and may have further pain to come, why lockdown is proving good news for one specialist retailer, and a distributor that's expanding despite the difficult economic backdrop.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Google searches for the word ‘staycation’ have spiked in 2020. Brits fearing unpleasant air travel, hostile international hosts or an unexpected two weeks of enforced quarantine on return to the UK have opted to holiday in these green and pleasant lands.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Government bonds were one of the only reliable portfolio diversifiers when equity markets crashed earlier this year, but they now face several pressing questions. Are they too expensive, and will they still work in the next sell-off? What will the future hold for bonds more generally?Mike Riddell, manager of the Allianz Strategic Bond fund, has successfully navigated recent bouts of volatility by taking a flexible approach to fixed income. In this interview, he tells us what the future might hold for the asset class and where he sees value (and risk).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's episode, John Hughman and resident analyst Phil Oakley discuss the state of play for the housebuilders with the help of this week's results from Redrow. Plus what Next can do in response to the evolving retail sector and how Ocado has found itself in the Covid-19 sweet spot. But is Phil convinced?If you don't subscribe to Alpha already, you can sign up for a four week trial for just £4 by clicking on the following link: investorschronicle.co.uk/TryAlpha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pub feels like just the right place to launch the Investors Chronicle’s brand new podcast, especially as the topic up for discussion in episode one is beer.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Professor John Kay has held a host of the UK’s leading economic advisory and academic positions. In early 2020, he published an incredibly prescient book alongside Lord Mervyn King which lays out the dangers of economic modelling when attempting to deal with crises. Reassuringly, Radical Uncertainty: Decision making for an unknowable future, shows that we can make good decisions, even in a very unreliable world.In this interview, Mary McDougall talks to Professor Kay about how he came to write his book, how its conclusions can be applied to the threats facing the world at the moment and whether or not he did indeed read all the sources in the book’s 39-page bibliography!Professor Kay also divulges his vast knowledge on the UK’s equity markets, building a pension, fighting climate change and what ESG should really be all about.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.