This week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest developments in global markets, from oil price volatility and the Strait of Hormuz to US inflation, bank earnings and what it all means for interest rates. They also assess Rachel Reeves' latest Mansion House speech and the outlook for UK economic growth.

Tom Sieber joins the show for a busy week of company news, with easyJet, Marks & Spencer, TikTok Shop, IBM, Barratt Redrow, PageGroup, Hays all making headlines.

Plus, Charlene explores the fastest fall in mortgage rates for almost two years, reveals what the latest HMRC figures tell us about Britain's growing tax burden, and looks at where holidaymakers will get the most value from their spending money this summer.

Topics covered

Have you ever held Premium Bonds for years without winning a prize?

You're not alone. In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young reveal fascinating insights into Premium Bonds and explain what millions of holders who have never won a prize could have earned elsewhere.

They discuss the eye-watering increase in probate costs, a report branding student loans as ‘mis-sold’, and what Terry Smith’s latest shareholder letter could mean for investors in the Fundsmith Equity Fund.

In the markets section, we cover Sky’s move for parts of ITV, the latest twist in EasyJet’s takeover story, and some intriguing developments at SpaceX. Dan also discusses the market sell-off as Donald Trump says the US/Iran peace deal is over.

Finally, AJ Bell investment experts Ryan Hughes and James Flintoft join Hannah Williford for a lively debate on artificial intelligence, its investment potential, and whether the hype is justified.

0:00 Introduction

2:05 Premium Bonds: what millions of savers may be missing

5:19 Probate costs set for a dramatic rise

12:06 Student loans branded 'mis-sold'

18:11 Is Terry Smith reinventing Fundsmith Equity fund?

24:39 World Cup fever and the UK economy

26:34 Sky buys parts of ITV

30:06 EasyJet takeover speculation

31:59 Market sell-off as peace deal falls apart

33:45 This is what brokers are saying about SpaceX 36:20 AI investing debate

In this monthly special of the AJ Bell Investment Trust Show, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford discuss some positive progress for the industry, while Eve Maddock-Jones and Martin Gamble explore a few cases of trust that are trading on a premium.

Then, Dan speaks to HG Capital to discuss how the private equity trust is investing in the AI boom, followed by Hannah, who speaks with Rob Lloyd from JPM Asia Growth and Income on their approach to the AI sector, and what’s being overlooked.

Finally, Dan gets the scoop on annual general meetings, and what investors might get out of them, with Temple Bar Investment Trust’s Charles Cade.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:29] Dan and Hannah speak about narrowing discounts in the investment trust industry

[07:50] Eve and Martin discuss a group of trusts trusts trading on a premium

[16:22] Dan interviews HG Capital on investing in AI in the private equity space

[31:58] Hannah interviews JPM Asia Growth and Income on if AI can continue to grow returns in Asia, and what’s happened to India

[50:55]]Dan speaks to Charles Cade from Temple Bar about what investors can get out of annual general meetings

[1:00:50]Outro

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Sarah Coles discuss the dash for cash ISAs ahead of allowance changes, what Andy Burnham could mean for your money, the financial side of marriage amid rumours around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, why July matters for the self-employed, and JISA performance data. Meanwhile, 16-year old Tilly joins them to share her perspective on what should be done about lost Child Trust Funds.

Dan Coatsworth rounds up the week’s market news, including updates on Associated British Foods, Sainsbury’s and gold, and speaks to Paul Niven from F&C Investment Trust about what recent market movements mean for investors.

[00:09] Intro

[01:29] Associated British Foods results

[02:48] Sainsburys Update

[03:54] Gold loses its shine

[05:03] Interview Paul Niven, manager of the F&C Investment Trust

[12:43] What Andy Burnham’s approach means for your money

[19:52] The dash for cash ISAs continues

[24:02] July deadline for self-employed

[27:12] Taylor Swift and the benefits of marriage

[35:06] Tooth Fairy inflation

[38:13] Junior ISA performance

[42:14] Lost child trust funds

Political turmoil is shaking the UK as the nation awaits a new prime minister. Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth break down what an Andy Burnham victory could mean for markets, your investments and your money – plus the potential next Chancellor.

We also cover falling oil prices, tech stock volatility, SpaceX’s wild IPO ride, and big moves from takeover target EasyJet.

In personal finance, Rachel Vahey explains major tax-related changes to ISAs and plans for a new First Time Buyer ISA, while Ruffer’s Ian Rees joins us to debate whether the classic 60/40 portfolio still works.

Burnham PM? Markets, chancellor contenders & your money [0:01:36]

In this month's special deep dive podcast, Tom Seiber and Hannah Williford explore how to invest around the world, and where there may be some hidden opportunities. They discuss the pros and cons of active and tracker funds for global exposure. Plus, Hannah speaks to AJ Bell's Paul Angell on what he prioritises when choosing active managers for different regions. 

Martin Gamble joins the duo to reveal his research on how different regions stack up on valuations, and Tom shares where AJ Bell investors are looking most frequently. Finally, Eve Maddock-Jones speaks to John Citron on the challenges and benefits of investing in emerging markets.

Timestamps:

[00:09] Introduction: Tom Sieber and Hannah Williford introduce the episode and explain why overseas investing matters for UK investors. 

[01:43] Global trackers, ETFs and active funds: how UK investors can access overseas markets, compare costs and indices, and understand how managers pick global stocks. 

[12:50] Interview with Paul Angell: the pros and cons of using fund managers who are based in the regions where they invest. 

[25:45] Comparing global markets with Martin Gamble: how different regions stack up on valuations, dividends and the types of companies that dominate each market. 

[31:32] Buying overseas shares directly: market opening hours, dealing access, minimum trade sizes and practical issues for UK investors. 

[39:15] Interview with John Citron: the challenges of managing an emerging markets portfolio across lots of different countries. 

[51:20] Final takeaways: Tom and Hannah recap the key lessons from the episode and wrap up the podcast. 

In this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest developments in the Middle East and what they mean for markets, oil prices and your everyday finances. They also dive into fresh UK inflation figures and what they could mean for interest rates in the second half of 2026.

Danni takes a closer look at the blockbuster SpaceX IPO and why investors are piling in, Charlene runs through some eye-catching ‘trillionaire maths’ and reflects on 10 years since the Brexit vote. There’s a warning for motorists over the cost of spreading car insurance payments and Danni sits down with JP Morgan to find out what’s happening on the ground in Korea and other emerging markets. Plus, we bring you a teaser of a special series of video chats with Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square.

[00:08] Intro

[01:26] Middle East impact on markets and oil

[06:30] UK inflation update and interest rate expectations

[16:42] Pizza Hut sale

[22:04] SpaceX IPO review

[36:07] Bill Ackman

[37:57] Brexit vote – 10 years on

[42:34] Which? warning on car insurance

[45:28] Interview – Emily Whiting, investment specialist at JP Morgan

In this week's episode, Tom Sieber and Charlene Young digest the latest market developments from both sides of the Atlantic, with the company behind ChatGPT unveiling IPO plans, GSK unveiling its biggest deal in a decade and a UK market stalwart getting snapped up. Plus, as the World Cup gets underway, Tom discusses the winners off the pitch.

Charlene talks us through changes to inheritance rules which could affect cohabiting couples and the things people should think about when passing on wealth to family and dependents. Tom reveals what readers of the latest free monthly Shares magazine can expect including the next phase of the AI story and how Netflix is looking to grow after missing out on acquiring Warner Bros.

Finally, Charlene discusses plans to broaden access to mortgages in the UK and what they might mean for the property market and Tom and Charlene discuss some interesting new stats on pocket money.

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Markets: ChatGPT IPO, GSK's biggest deal in a decade & a UK takeover

16:19 Inheritance rules: cohabiting couples & passing on wealth

22:30 Shares magazine: AI's next phase & Netflix's growth plans

26:17 UK mortgage access & pocket money stats

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young is joined by new co-host Sarah Coles alongside Tom Sieber to unpack a busy week across markets, tech and personal finance. With geopolitical tensions continuing to weigh on sentiment, the team looks at whether investors are stuck in a holding pattern or if there are more subtle shifts happening beneath the surface.

There’s also a deep dive into the latest surge in AI excitement, from a major potential Anthropic IPO to huge fundraising moves by Google parent Alphabet, with takeover chatter in sectors like aviation and renewables.

The new Retirement Living Standards are out, showing how inflation is upping the cost of even a modest lifestyle in retirement. Sarah and Charlene also talk about fresh savings and lending data from the Bank of England, and what’s really happening in the UK housing market. The episode concludes with Dan Coatsworth sitting down with Richard Jeffery, executive chair of Reading based firm ActiveOps to find out how AI is central to what they do.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction: What makes investment trusts unique

04:30 What does a trust board actually do? (Tom Sieber & Mark Bridgeman)

19:00 Investment trusts vs funds: Who wins? (Nick Britton, AIC)

33:20 Private equity explained: Inside ICG Enterprise Trust (ICG Colm Walsh)

47:45 Space & defence boom: Seraphim Investment Trust (Mark Bogget)

01:06:45 Outro & key takeaways