On today’s episode of The Companies and Markets show, we discuss management consultancy Begbies Traynor’s latest results. What do they tell us about the UK economy?
Next up is our latest cover feature on the North Sea. More than 170 years since its resources were first tapped, the North Sea is still seen as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the UK’s energy system. We ponder the future of the shallow arm of the Atlantic Ocean. How damaging are windfall taxes? What are the prospects for offshore wind?
Lastly, it’s on to UK pensions. Why have nine pension providers agreed to invest default funds in unlisted equities? And will these plans make a difference to the interest in unlisted companies and domestic equity investment?
Dan Jones is joined by Mark Robinson, Alex Newman, Alex Hamer and Leonora Walters

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The Companies and Markets show: Begbies Traynor, the North Sea and pensions

Looking for help with your Isa or pension? Or just plain confused by the stock market? Each week, Investors' Chronicle picks apart the latest news for companies, markets and funds, and brings you fresh investment ideas. Subscribe for these, along with interviews with professional investors and special in-depth discussions on big market themes.

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News & Politics

News

We begin this week’s chat with deputy companies editor Michael Fahy who runs through the history and new developments at tech solutions company Filtronic (FTC). Having signed a deal matching its total revenue last year, Michael unpacks the potential prospects for the business.
On the day the Bank of England announced it would keep interest rates on hold, Julian Hofmann joins the conversation to discuss his latest story on mid-cap stocks benefiting from interest rate cuts. Alex Newman also weighs in on the debate.
Last up, Mark Robinson discusses oil services group John Wood Group’s (WG) trading update and the recent opportunistic bid from Sidara. Would a deal make sense?
Timestamps  1:25 Filtronic (FTC) 16:12 Mid-caps  29:29 Wood Group (WG)

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How interest rates can affect mid-caps & Wood Group’s trading update: The Companies and Markets Show

The latest episode of The IC Interviews features Ian Lance, co-manager of Temple Bar Investment Trust alongside Nick Purves, who together have more than five decades of experience. The duo focus on undervalued UK shares and are adept at avoiding value traps.
In this episode, Dave and Ian discuss the possibility of a UK re-rating, the sectors most attracting Ian and Nick’s attention, news from Royal Mail-owner International Distribution Service (IDS), tobacco stocks and much more.
This episode was recorded on 17 April.
Timestamps 00:51 Is there a catalyst for a UK re-rating? 2:35 Buybacks  4:54 The sectors catching his eye 6:42 Energy and commodity prices 8:54 How Lance thinks banks balance the benefits of higher rates versus risk 11:11 Why the trust doesn’t have more UK holdings  13:52 The fund's income versus total return outlook 15:25 Holdings that don’t pay much out  17:11 International Distribution Service (IDS) 19:53 What would make Lance give up hope on a turnaround play 23:05 Sectors that are hard to be optimistic about 25:04 Other sectors with appeal 
Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £56.25 every 13 weeks by direct debit.  If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Ignore the oil price – energy stocks are still great value’: Ian Lance of Temple Bar Investment Trust

Are you paying £5 for a coffee? £4 for mayonnaise? With food and drink inflation still on the rise, the IC team asks whether consumer goods companies are reaching the limits of what they can charge households. Jennifer Johnson discusses the latest trading update from Unilever (ULVR) as well as its spin-off plans, and examines figures from US consumer giants, too. Also under the microscope are two other consumer staples businesses: Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) and Haleon (HLN).
With local elections taking place across the UK this week, we consider the implications of Labour's rail nationalisation plan. Was the reaction from Trainline (TRN) and FirstGroup (FGP) investors overdone? Chris Akers is on hand to give his views.
Meanwhile this week's cover story looks at the world's largest companies. Michael Fahy asks what we can learn from the rankings, and considers the outlook for the likes of ASML (NL:ASML) and Toyota Motor (JP:7203).

 Timestamps 2:55 Consumer staples 14:56 Rail nationalisation 22:55 National champions
Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial
*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £56.25 every 13 weeks by direct debit.  If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unilever, Trainline & national champions: The Companies and Markets Show

Much of what has been covered in Lee and the IC episodes is about financial literacy and in this episode, Alex and John take a step further by hosting three members from the Renaissance Foundation, a specialist London-based youth charity.
The foundation, among its other aims, hopes to bring financial literacy to young people who otherwise may not have exposure to the world of investing. It will soon launch the City of London Youth Investment Fund and Alex and John are joined by CEO, Sat Singh, and co-chairs of the fund, Ananya Chowdhury and Wahid Uddin, who benefitted from the foundation as children.
The five discuss a range of topics from the formation of the fund to their research methods when finding companies to invest in. Lord Lee shares insight from his six-decades-worth of experience as a private investor, and Alex and John also touch on his Lok'n Store holding and take questions from listeners. 
Timestamps  1:11 Financial education and the Renaissance Foundation 6:15 The fund 8:27 Practical considerations of the City of London Youth Investment Fund 10:12 Co-chairs of the fund Ananya Chowdhury and Wahid Uddin  12:29 How to bring investing to life for young people  13:46 John’s entry into investing 15:16 The investing approach to the fund 16:36 Balancing risk and range of a fund 17:52 How investing changes when it's collaborative versus personal 18:46 Will their fund be more company or fund-focused? 21:33 What success would look like for the fund 23:48  Sharing investing styles  27:37 The importance of dividends 29:01 John’s portfolio & Lok'n Store 34:20 PZ Cussons 41:22 Listener questions
Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial
*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £56.25 every 13 weeks by direct debit.  If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only. 
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How young investors can learn their trade: Lee and the IC

On the day of the announcement mining giant BHP offered a whopping £31bn for Anglo American, Mark Robinson runs us through the thinking behind the deal, the impact South Africa’s upcoming election may have on Anglo’s assets, and whether this is just the beginning of negotiations.
Jemma Slingo takes the hot seat to discuss this week’s cover feature, hopefully, a comfort for many listeners: investors’ biggest mistakes. Jemma shares a few examples from fund managers interviewed, what they have learnt from their mistakes, the behavioural science behind them and more. 
Last but not least, Julian Hofmann discusses the biggest estate agent Property Franchise Group (TPFG) which recently completed a takeover of smaller realtor Belvoir. It’s now the biggest real estate agent in the country in terms of its multitude of locations thanks to its franchise model, but is it a quality business in the cyclical sector?
Timestamps 1:08 BHP’s big for Anglo American 13:56 Investors’ biggest mistakes 25:01 Property Franchise Group
Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial
*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £56.25 every 13 weeks by direct debit.  If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Companies and Markets show: Begbies Traynor, the North Sea and pensions

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