Investors' Chronicle

After a summer hiatus, Alex Newman and Lord Lee are back in the studio, and the duo have a lot to catch up on. The UK has seen a change of prime minister, record-breaking heat and plenty of action in stock markets.First, the pair turn to Britain’s new government. While Andy Burnham and John Healey have revealed very little about their fiscal plans, Lord Lee gives his thoughts, including how to encourage the country’s sleepy retail investor base. The episode then moves to listener questions, John’s approach to stockpicking and the latest buys, sells and changes in his own portfolio. Highlights include Primary Health Properties’ lofty yield and why he believes investing is an “art rather than a science”.Timestamps00:00 Intro01:08 Lord Lee's thoughts on Burnham's Britain10:18 A look into John's portfolio: Buys and sells21:09 Jet2, PZ Cussons, Christie Group and more33:26 Goodwin, income stocks and takeover opportunitiesLet us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing alex.newman@ft.comListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle by clicking here or heading to Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Up first this week is self-labelled ‘King of Trainers’ JD Sports, whose shares took a 15 per cent tumble on Thursday morning. The FTSE 100 retailer has blamed much of the slump on delayed back-to-school spending and a rising cost of living. Erin Withey explains what’s going on.Next we turn to what has become a trend of the past few months: star fund managers overhauling portfolios. Bill Ackman of Pershing Square has joined the party in trying to stop disappointing returns, but when your portfolio only has around 12 stocks, and you change 11 of them, it’s going to have some significant repercussions. Val Cipriani is in the studio to discuss whether the shake-up is for the better or whether investors should be worried. Finally, we look at Oxford Nanopore; initial excitement after its IPO has waned, and the testing company has struggled as its biggest segment, its research arm, has lagged. Julian Hofmann dives into its management’s plans to switch up its strategy and what this means for shareholders.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro3:59 JD Sports10:57 Pershing Square20:08 Oxford NanoporeListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

After an avalanche of earnings updates, we turn to our annual Income Majors special report and dive into two prominent FTSE 100 dividend stocks. First up is insurer Legal & General; pressure has been mounting on the company as it grapples with a more competitive pensions market. Christopher Akers explains the CEO’s buyback plan, its yield and what it means for investors.We then move to GSK, once known as GlaxoSmithKline, which faces a tricky balancing act between dividends and developing new drugs. The pharma giant has been spending heavily on R&D – a staggering £18bn this year alone to build its oncology pipeline. Julian Hofmann has the details.Finally, we cast our ears to Hill & Smith’s growth across the pond. The steel products company now generates two-thirds of its revenue from the US and has even switched its currency from sterling to dollars. Michael Fahy discusses what’s going on at the growing business.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:22 Legal & General10:42 GSK18:57 Hill & Smith Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Women, on average, earn less than men, have less saved in a pension and have to take more time off from work to care for others. But while society is rigged to burden women with heavier loads, Gina Miller has made it her mission to change this and close the gender wealth gap. Gina is an activist, entrepreneur and the founder of MoneyShe, an investment platform focused on women’s finances. Gina, who became widely known for her anti-Brexit campaign and has spent decades working in the City, sits down with funds editor Val Cipriani to discuss the barriers blocking women from investing, the inherent misogyny in finance and practical steps to build a portfolio.She also discusses the financial consequences of having cancer and her experience with economic abuse.Timestamps00:00 Introduction02:41 Understanding the gender wealth gap06:09 Why women invest less than men10:41 Practical tips for getting started15:12 Misogyny in finance and campaigning for change20:02 The financial impact of cancer23:12 Economic abuse and financial independence26:24 MoneyShe and Gina’s current campaigning workWomen 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 to answer in the podcast, email val.cipriani@ft.com

M&A activity remains rampant, and this week we start with a tie-up that would rank among the biggest deals of all time: AstraZeneca and US rival Bristol Myers Squibb. Julian Hofmann discusses the merits of the mooted $400bn deal, the drawbacks and why investors’ response to the rumour has been bleak. We then turn to what could be the greatest disrupter humans have seen for decades: the rise of AI and what it means for the jobs market. As speculation runs rampant as to how many roles could be lost, Hugh Moorhead is in the studio to curb some of those concerns. Hugh explains what’s actually going on, which companies might stand to benefit, which might not, and how investors should respond.Finally, Mark Robinson puts medical device maker Smith & Nephew under the microscope after its half-year figures suggest its long-awaited rebound hasn’t quite arrived. But with an activist lurking on the shareholder register, could better times be on the way?Timestamps00:00 Introduction1:20 AstraZeneca15:43 AI's impact on the jobs market and what this means for investors30:23 Smith & NephewListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Results season is in full swing, and it’s been another bumper week – with the overwhelming majority positive. But there are always laggards, and this week’s show dives into one of the FTSE 100’s biggest fallers, Rentokil. The pest control business’s shares plunged after its half-year figures. Julian Hofmann explains why.Then, we look overseas, with many of the big AI and semiconductor trades going into reverse over recent weeks, including memory-chip makers SK Hynix and Samsung. So what better time to discuss how to pick out the value shares in these global markets. Michael Fahy talks through his favourites. And finally, we look at the consequences of the SpaceX IPO for Britain’s investors – not the losses on which they’re sitting, but the possibility of it having tipped the first domino on access to US IPOs. Helen Kirrane explains what’s going onTimestamps00:00 Introduction00:57 Rentokil10:54 Global value hunting22:33 US IPOsListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Seraphim Space (SSIT) has been one of the best performing investment trusts in the past year. Helped by the enthusiasm for the sector generated by SpaceX, the £400mn trust pulled off a rare fundraising and now has a pile of cash to deploy.Val Cipriani sits down with chief executive Mark Boggett, who discusses opportunities and volatility in space, why he isn’t afraid of concentration, and how space technology could prove as revolutionary as the internet or AI.You can listen to the interview, alongside all of our other podcasts, on Acast, Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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.Timestamps00:00 Intro01:50 Terry Smith20:12 Morgan Sindall31:50 Mony GroupListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

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 hereFinally, 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.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:42 AI inflation11:58 India funds17:24 Cohort resultsListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube