Investors' Chronicle

As the half-year results season falls upon us, a smorgasbord of companies are reporting over the next few weeks. But today’s episode focuses on two whose outlooks are already in.

Hugh Moorhead looks at contractor Morgan Sindall, which reported ahead of this episode’s recording on Thursday. This is followed by Mark Robinson, who talks through comparison website Mony, better known as MoneySuperMarket. Hugh discusses Sindall’s merits, while Mark weighs up Mony’s valuation. 

But before diving into results, we must cast our ears to what is arguably the biggest funds story of 2026. Terry Smith, of Fundsmith, decided to abandon his longstanding ‘do nothing’ approach in favour of a momentum strategy, overhauling more than half his portfolio in six months. Funds editor Val Cipriani unpacks what’s going on and explores whether or not investors should throw in the towel.

00:00 Intro

01:50 Terry Smith

20:12 Morgan Sindall

31:50 Mony Group

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week begins with how booming demand for AI infrastructure is driving a sharp increase in the price of memory chips. Erin Withey is in the studio to explain what this means for supply chains, which companies are winning as a result, and whether the squeeze is here to stay. 

Casting our ears abroad, we move to India, where a recent rally in the country’s equity funds has sparked investor interest. Helen Kirrane unpacks the reasons why lower oil prices and attractive valuations are boosting sentiment, and which funds are at the forefront of the recovery. More updates on that here

Finally, Michael Fahy talks through defence contractor Cohort, after it reported another year of strong growth. Mike discusses how a rising demand for its electronic warfare systems is fuelling its healthy order book and filling its pockets.

00:00 Intro

03:42 AI inflation

11:58 India funds

17:24 Cohort results

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show begins with Labour’s decision to force tech giants to give more prominence to traditional news broadcasters on social media, to help battle misinformation. Valeria Martinez discusses what this quick-fire solution to get younger people to engage with older news outlets means for investors and the companies involved.

We then turn to Britain’s housing market as the cost of homes crept up in June. Hugh Moorhead dives into whether it’s showing signs of meaningful recovery, regional trends and how affordability pressures are affecting buyers. Hugh also talks through housebuilder Vistry’s dramatic share price plunge this week.

Finally, Julian Hofmann discusses the success of legal firm Knights after it released positive results this week. With its acquisition-led strategy proving fruitful and cash generation benefiting shareholders, Julian explores how it’s growing without resorting to borrowing.

00:00 Introduction

03:39 Broadcasters

13:18 Outlook for Britain's housing market

19:34 Knights results

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gender health gap is an issue which affects far more than just wellbeing; it impacts your career, earnings and long-term financial stability.

In this episode of Women and Wealth, funds editor Val Cipriani and personal finance editor Holly McKechnie walk you through why women experience poorer health than men, how it is a systemic issue of under-investment in women’s healthcare and what this means for your finances. 

The duo explore how the menopause and conditions such as endometriosis affect your earnings and pension pot. Holly and Val also explain how employers can improve support and offer practical steps women can take to protect their pockets from sudden or long-term illness.

Women and Wealth is the monthly podcast series from Investors’ Chronicle. You can listen to and watch the episodes alongside our other podcasts on Acast, Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

If you have any questions you’d like Val and Holly to answer, email [email protected]

00:00 Introduction 

01.19 What the gender health gap is and how it impacts your finances

11.46 Impact of menopause and endometriosis on a your working life

15: 51 Practical things to improve your financial security

24:13 Outro

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we turn to Britain’s recruitment stocks. Valeria Martinez looks at the impact of AI on hiring demand, which is hitting share prices, and also discusses the perennial question: is the new technology a concern or an opportunity?

Next, we cast our ears to Italian tech buyout specialist, and Baillie Gifford favourite, Bending Spoons, following its Nasdaq debut earlier this week. Val Cipriani dives into its growth strategy and what the IPO means for investors and the likes of Scottish Mortgage.

Lastly, Julian Hofmann looks at agricultural supplier Wynnstay (WYN), after it announced positive results despite headwinds for the farming sector. Julian explores how the company is navigating volatile fertiliser prices, cutting costs, and the reasons to be optimistic.

00:00 Introduction

04:20 AI vs the recruitment sector

15:12 Bending Spoons

25:03 Wynnstay results

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we begin with online grocer Ocado (OCDO) following reports of a CEO switch. Julian Hofmann dives into what a potential change at the top will mean for the FTSE 250 company that has struggled to deliver despite decades of investing in its technology. 

Next, we turn to Liontrust Asset Management (LIO), where, despite another year of poor results, it reported an early completion for its acquisition of River Global. Christopher Akers explores the positive response to the news and whether M&A offers a road to recovery.

Lastly, we look at Telecom Plus (TEP), better known as Utilities Warehouse, after it slashed dividend payouts and cut forecasts. Julian is back to discuss the provider’s plans to kick-start customer growth and considers whether investors are right to have confidence in the turnaround. 

00:00 Intro

06:33 Ocado

12:17 Liontrust Asset Management

20:08 Telecom Plus

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we begin proceedings with a look at the contrasting fortunes of two UK wealth managers: Aim-traded Tatton Asset Management (TAM) continues to reap rewards from its dominance of the model portfolio market. But its older rival, Rathbones (RAT), ran into trouble this week when it announced it would temporarily stop accepting investments from some higher-risk clients following a review by the regulator. Chris Akers is with us to shed some light on both situations.

After that we look at online retailer AO World (AO.), which continues to make a better fist than it once did of operating in an environment of shaky consumer confidence. Erin Withey will talk about the company’s growth strategy and its plans to return money to shareholders.

Lastly we turn to Castings (CGS), the 190-year old foundry operator that sells into the HGV market. Mark Robinson is here to analyse its recent results and to consider whether this is a turnaround situation.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:03 Wealth Managers

09:47 AO World

20:22 Castings

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fevara (FVA:127p) may be new in name, but its roots and expertise stretch back more than a century through the former Carr’s Group. In the wake of this major transformation, the livestock supplements company’s focus is now on improving farming productivity through its advanced animal feed technology and supplements, and overseas expansion.

Alongside chief executive Joshua Hoopes, Alex Newman and Lord Lee delve into the company’s strategy both at home and in South America. They cover Fevara’s lofty ambitions in Brazil – its acquisitions so far, the competitive advantages of the country, and the company’s targets for long-term growth. 

They also discuss why Hoopes believes Fevara can continue growing despite structural changes across the agricultural sector, and issues concerning sustainability and the climate crisis.

The trio also explore shareholder returns, dividend policy and the outlook for global cattle markets.

Let us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing [email protected]

00:00 Intro

02:48 Fevara’s transformation

07:00 Fevara’s feed supplements

17:18 Why Brazil is Fevara’s biggest growth opportunity

27:39 Sustainability, emissions and the future of cattle farming

38:04 Lord Lee’s latest portfolio moves

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show dives straight into safety and equipment maker Halma (HLMA), which reported its full-year results on Thursday morning. It may be time to re-evaluate the company’s description as one of the FTSE 100’s least newsworthy businesses – it has been reaping the rewards of the AI boom. But with increased interest comes heightened expectations, and perhaps this is why its shares tumbled by 15 per cent on the day of the results. Mark Robinson digs into the details on whether this ‘quality stock’ is more volatile than it once was.

We then turn to big pharma giant GSK (GSK). The drugmaker made its largest deal in over a decade earlier this week with the acquisition of US cancer biotech Nuvalent. Julian Hofmann takes a look at the $11bn deal and what it means for the future of the pharmaceutical company.

Finally we discuss venture capital trust Molten Ventures (GROW), whose investments in the likes of fintech Revolut and microsatellite operator ICEYE have helped boost its returns. Mark is back to explore its portfolio and looks at whether the trust is morphing into something different.

00:00 Introduction

01:22 Halma

14:47 GSK

23:06 Molten Ventures

32:25 Outro

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show dives straight into trading platform CMC Markets, after its promise of an imminent inflection point sent its shares soaring to the top of the FTSE All-Share leaderboard on Thursday. Julian Hofmann discusses the business’s full-year figures, its big future plans and whether it’s becoming a more reliable investment.

We then turn to this week’s Big Read on how to tap into Britain’s mammoth water plan; the £100bn strategy to shore up and hopefully improve the dismal state of the country’s infrastructure. Will it succeed? And will it lead to new business for contractors and those working on new technologies? Hugh Moorhead has the answers.

Finally, we take a look at beleaguered fund manager Nick Train’s latest attempts to encourage investors to stick by him during a period of significant underperformance. Holly McKechnie tells us what changes are being made to Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT).

Read more here:

How investors can tap into Britain’s waterworks plan

Will Nick Train’s Finsbury Growth turnaround plan work?

CMC Markets’ shares jump on upgraded outlook

00:00 Intro

01:08 CMC

13:33 Britain’s waterworks

29:15 Nick Train’s new strategy

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.