In this week’s podcast Michael Brown (Senior Market Strategist from Pepperstone) and Michael Hewson discuss the odds of a Fed rate cut next month after this week’s US CPI and PPI numbers. They also look at the health of the UK economy through the lens of Q2 GDP, and unemployment numbers before looking ahead to UK CPI, Retail sales as well as earnings from Walmart, Target and Hays.

In this week’s podcast Michael Brown (Senior Market Strategist from Pepperstone) and Michael Hewson discuss the latest decision by the Bank of England to cut rates by 25bps and what it tells us about the UK economy.

They also look back at the latest earnings numbers from Amazon, Apple and Disney, as well as BP, Diageo and IHG and look ahead to next week’s UK Q2 GDP numbers and what they tell us about the UK consumer.

As earnings seasons gets under way in earnest and the 1st August tariff deadline approaches Michael Brown (Senior Market Strategist from Pepperstone) and Michael Hewson discuss the drivers of company outperformance which is driving the FTSE 100, and US markets to new record highs. We look back at earnings announcements from the likes of NatWest, Barclays, Rolls-Royce, as well as Microsoft and Meta all of which have driven this week’s gains as well as looking ahead to the Bank of England next week.

In this week’s podcast Michael Brown (Senior Market Strategist from Pepperstone) and Michael Hewson discuss what’s driving the new record highs for the FTSE100, Nikkei 225 and US markets, as markets increasingly embrace the prospect of new trade deals, following on from the US/Japan and UK/India deals. This week has seen positive market reactions to the numbers from the likes of ITV, BT Group, Vodafone and Reckitt Benckiser and Alphabet. Could they be a precursor to similar strong numbers next week from the likes of Rolls-Royce, AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft amongst others.

In this week’s episode of The Good Money Guide Podcast, Michael Hewson and Pepperstone’s Michael Brown break down what’s driving global stock markets to record highs, from copper tariffs and surging tech stocks like Nvidia, to central bank decisions and surprisingly resilient miners.We explore:

- Why markets are ignoring Trump’s 50% copper tariff

- Whether Nvidia’s $4 trillion valuation is sustainable

- What the Fed, RBA and RBNZ rate holds mean for investors- M&A action from Merck and Ferrero

- Trouble in the UK: rising unemployment, vanishing bank jobs, and potential tax hikes

- Earnings outlook for EasyJet, Dr Martens, Netflix, and the big US banks

In this week’s podcast Michael Brown (Senior Market Strategist from Pepperstone) and Michael Hewson discuss the recent volatility in UK markets as a result of events in Westminster this week, as we come up to the one-year anniversary of the current government. We also look back at the good, bad and ugly of UK markets so far this year, and what H2 might have in store when it comes to stocks and currency markets.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Current Events

03:04 Political Climate and Market Reactions

09:45 Corporate Movements: AstraZeneca's Potential US Relocation

14:27 US Payrolls and Economic Indicators

22:24 Market Performance and Future Projections

32:22 Market Speculation and Acquisition Challenges

33:05 Marks & Spencer's Recovery Prospects

35:09 EasyJet and IHG Performance Analysis

36:52 WPP's Struggles in the Advertising Sector

38:06 Political Dynamics and Market Confidence

39:22 The Dollar's Weakness and Economic Implications

41:30 Euro and Cable Trends

44:52 Interest Rate Expectations and Central Bank Policies

47:32 Market Trends and Economic Indicators

50:50 Retail Sector Updates and Future Outlook

In this week’s Good Money Guide podcast, Michael Hewson and Pepperstone’s Michael Brown cover everything from geopolitics to stock specifics — including some of the most talked-about names in investors’ portfolios.

They dig into:

• Nike’s unexpected 11% pre-market rally after better-than-feared results

• Babcock’s 120% YTD surge and what rising defense budgets mean for margins

• FedEx earnings and what they reveal about the global economy

• The outlook for Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Currys, and Halfords in a still-resilient UK consumer sector

• Why Constellation Brands (maker of Corona and Modelo) could be a key Trump-trade stock to watch

• And broader themes like the weaker US dollar, falling bond yields, Fed politics, and the latest Shell–BP takeover rumours

In this podcast sponsored by Pepperstone, hosts Michael Hewson and Michael Brown discuss the current economic landscape, focusing on central bank policies, geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices, and the challenges facing the UK equity market. They analyze inflation trends, earnings reports from various companies, and the implications of consumer behavior shifts. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of global events and their impact on financial markets, emphasizing the need for investors to stay informed and adaptable in a rapidly changing environment.

Chapters

00:00 Central Banks and Market Reactions

02:42 Geopolitical Tensions and Oil Prices

05:07 Scottish Widows and UK Equity Allocations

07:44 Boeing's Challenges and Market Implications

10:20 US Economic Indicators and Federal Reserve Outlook

12:58 Bank of England's Stance on Inflation

15:28 Monthly GDP Data and Its Relevance

18:26 Swiss National Bank and Rate Cuts

20:57 Boeing's Recent Issues and Investor Sentiment

30:19 Earnings Insights: A Mixed Bag

32:31 Market Dynamics and Consumer Behavior

34:36 Corporate Strategies: Listings and Market Presence

36:41 Economic Indicators: PMIs and GDP

39:13 Energy Policy and Its Implications

42:38 Future Earnings: Expectations and Concerns

48:37 Geopolitical Risks and Market Reactions

Sponsored by Pepperstone

Summary

In this podcast episode, Michael Hewson and Michael Brown discuss the current state of the stock market, focusing on the impact of geopolitical tensions, central bank meetings, and economic data from the UK. They delve into the complicated relationship between Elon Musk and Trump, the grim outlook for the UK economy, and the performance of the pound against the dollar. The conversation also covers labor market dynamics, Broadcom's strong performance, Apple's recent developer conference, and insights into the UK housing market and Tesco's performance. In this conversation, the hosts discuss the current state of the UK retail market, highlighting concerns about slowing consumer discretionary spending and the implications for upcoming retail sales data. They delve into the troubling trend of UK tech IPOs, particularly the recent acquisition of AlphaWave by Qualcomm at a significantly reduced valuation. The discussion shifts to the government's role in the decline of the London market, emphasizing the loss of market cap and the lack of new IPOs. The hosts also touch on the dynamics of the FTSE 100, noting its global nature and the implications for UK investors. Looking ahead, they consider upcoming economic indicators, including UK CPI and retail sales, and the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on interest rates amid changing economic conditions. Finally, they discuss earnings reports from companies like Ashtead Group and AO World, reflecting on consumer spending trends and market sentiment.

Chapters

00:00 Market Overview and Central Bank Watch

03:21 Elon Musk and Trump: A Complicated Relationship

08:13 UK Economic Data: A Grim Outlook

15:12 The Pound's Performance Against the Dollar

18:30 Labor Market Dynamics and Fed Policy

19:55 Broadcom's Strong Performance Amidst Market Challenges

21:23 Apple's Developer Conference: A Missed Opportunity

24:14 UK Housing Market Insights

26:36 Tesco's Performance and Consumer Behavior

30:15 UK Retail Sales and Consumer Sentiment

31:57 The Decline of UK Tech IPOs

34:46 Government's Role in Market Decline

36:48 The Impact of UK Market Dynamics

39:16 Upcoming Economic Indicators

45:54 Federal Reserve's Stance on Interest Rates

50:00 Earnings Reports and Consumer Spending Trends

Michael Hewson and Michael Brown (from our sponsor Pepperstone) discuss the latest developments in the financial markets, including the European Central Bank's recent rate cuts, ongoing trade tensions, and the implications for the UK economy. They analyse various earnings reports, the growth of the defence sector, challenges faced by retailers and airlines, and the need for innovation in the tech industry. The conversation also touches on IPO trends and the upcoming government spending review, highlighting the complexities of consumer behaviour and market dynamics.