Investors' Chronicle

We begin the year's final podcast discussing activist investor Saba Capital. Funds editor Dave Baxter explores the impact of its demand to remove the boards of seven investment trusts and what investors should do if the changes go ahead.It’s then onto Hollywood Bowl’s (BOWL) results. The company reported a 7 per cent rise in revenue, but shares still fell 10 per cent. Michael Fahy explains what caused the fall as well as the business's valuation.Last up, our US-based writer Arthur Sants joins in the studio. From the recent market sell-off after comments from the Fed to the Magnificent Seven stocks, investors can find out what to expect from American markets in the coming year. Timestamps 1:17 Saba Capital9:31 Hollywood Bowl17:43 The USClaim 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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.

After a busy year of geopolitical changes, there is a lot of ground to cover when discussing markets. In this episode, Simon and Dan Jones unpack everything from the mass number of moves to the US market to knotty Aim shares, and the sectors investors should keep an eye on in 2025.Timestamps01:02 2025 prospects06:06 Economic backdrop 10:23 Upgrades and downgrades 15:31 Donald Trump’s presidency 21:12 His take on moves to US markets24:16 Buybacks29:20 Aim32:16 IPOs and M&A33:59 Interesting sectors 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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.

Chris Akers unpacks the latest from equipment rental company Ashtead (AHT). The figures slightly underwhelmed the market, but the biggest factor affecting the business was the announcement that it’s moving its listing to the US.Onto our latest cover feature on behavioural psychology and investing. Alex Newman lays out his intention with the piece, as well as the importance of recognising what impact our biases have on our investment decisions.It’s then on to the plastics business Victrex (VCT) which saw its shares shoot up recently. Julian Hofmann looks at the causes of this and Alex returns to touch on the bid for Aim-traded fintech firm Equals (EQLS).Timestamps01:17 Ashtead09:05 Developmental psychology19:56  Victrex27:21 EqualsClaim 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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.

As stock pickers, the managers of The Brunner Investment Trust are looking for what they believe are great companies which can grow and deliver returns to shareholders. Whilst this may sound obvious, just what exactly are the common factors in the DNA of a “great” company? Joe Lynam quizzes portfolio manager Julian Bishop on how he and his team go about assessing companies.For more in-depth discussions and insights, visit our website for additional podcast episodes, articles and videos: https://www.brunner.co.uk/en-gb/videos-podcasts-and-reading This content was paid for and produced by The Brunner Investment Trust

Alex and Lord Lee sit down with the CEO of one of the holdings in Lord Lee’s portfolio: James Gundy of the shipping service company, Braemar (BMS).James has been group CEO since 2021 and he unpacks the ins and outs of running a shipbroker on London’s main market, how it compares to its competitors and its navigation of some complicated geopolitical waters.As always, the episode closes with an update on Lord Lee’s portfolio changes, including why he’s buying a new real estate investment trust and why he’s focusing on the changes to capital gains tax.Timestamps00:59 What the company does04:23 Lead indicators07:24 Compared to Clarksons 08:57 How Lord Lee got involved12:51 Pricing intangibles16:43 Why shipbroking is dominated by UK-based companies18:20 Why Lord Lee thought it was a good investment19:55 Is volatility good for business?20:59 The sale to Russian oil producer Lukoil27:16 Is Braemar under investigation? 29:39 Financials31:58 Dividends35:10 Lord Lee’s portfolio 38:00 Takeovers 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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 £1

We begin with airlines Jet2 (JET2) and EasyJet (EZJ) who recently released results. Michael Fahy explores the current demand for travel and package holidays, and the reputational issues affecting share valuations. The future of the North Sea is murky but the industry now has clarity on its taxes. Our commodities expert, Alex Hamer, lays out the opportunities, challenges and changing operating costs in the sector.AJ Bell (AJB) recently changed how its users can vote at AGMs for the companies they own – offering a digital option, in the same way Interactive Investors users have been able to since 2021. Holly McKechnie unpacks why this is an important move and the impact it may have.Timestamps1:23 Airline stocks12:34 The North Sea27:04 Shareholder democracyClaim 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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.

In the latest episode of the IC Interviews, Val Cipriani, personal finance editor, sits down with Stefan Gries of BlackRock Greater Europe Trust. The fund is known for focusing on businesses with dependable profits and finds success even though it takes less risk than the average investor.Hear Gries’s take on Dutch semiconductor stock ASML (AMS), and how the industry will fare in light of Donald Trump’s win. The duo also cover the prospects of the Chinese and UK markets, the fund’s stock-picking methods which European sectors are ripe for investor attention.Timestamps 0:49 What the fund does2:34 Changes to the strategy6:02 Outlook on the market   8:53 US election result 11:06 Bullish versus Bearish13:46 Stockpicking17:13 Novo Nordisk 21:46 ASML 25:25 Semiconductors in the wake of Trump’s win32:57 China and post-Covid recovery 35:55 UK market38:19 Granola stocks40:39 Wider European stocks 42:42 Promising sectors 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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.

British-based luxury fashion brand Burberry (BRBY) has had a hard time of late. Our team delve into what’s gone wrong over and question whether the low valuation is attractive enough for investors to take a gamble.It’s then onto our Investment Trust Special. We explore what trusts are most vulnerable to consolidation and some that could be fruitful in the changing macroeconomic environment.Last up, it’s specialist British chemical company Croda (CRDA). The latest update shows signs of life but two profit warnings over the past 18 months could hold back its growth. Julian Hofmann looks into the details. Timestamps 1:31 Burberry 15:38 Investment trusts27:48 Croda 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 www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 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 £1