Podcast: Many Happy Returns

Last week, an unexpected cooling of inflation allowed the Bank of England to leave interest rates unchanged. But with CPI still running more than three times above its target, has the Bank wimped out before the battle is won? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Instead of hiking interest rates to fight inflation,...

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published revised GDP figures, upending the post-pandemic economic narrative. It turns out that Britain’s economy recovered much quicker than previously thought and is no longer an international outlier. So how did the ONS find a load of economic output down the back of the sofa? And in today’s Dumb...

You don’t get to invest with the benefit of hindsight. Mistakes are made, and you have to live with them. But it begs the question: if you could travel back in time, what investing advice would you give your 21-year-old self? Would you champion index funds? Warn about risk? Or maybe suggest just getting started?...

In the early 2000s, the BRICS nations were the pick of emerging markets: vast, rapidly growing economies that promised stellar long-term returns. But it hasn’t played out like that. At least, not yet. Just last week, BRICS expanded its fold with six new members. But does the alliance actually make a difference? And in today’s...

During my 15 years in investment banking, I witnessed the brilliance of analysts, the buzz of the trading floor, and the chaos of the financial crisis. Today, we draw back the curtain on the world of high finance. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: What are “systemically important banks”? {{many-happy-returns-links}} {{pensioncraft-links}} {{disclaimer}} {{d-show-copyright}}

For the best part of a century, buying cheap stocks was a reliable way to beat the market. But since the financial crisis, value investing has significantly underperformed. Even Warren Buffett — its most famous advocate — has lagged the market. So is value investing dead? Or is it just sleeping? And in today’s Dumb...

Stock markets go up because companies grow their earnings over the long term. But this year, the S&P 500 is rallying despite stocks reporting their third straight quarter of falling profits. Has the market just not noticed? We discuss whether an earnings recession should worry us and if it’s about to turn around. And in...

For decades, China has been the engine of global growth, doubling its GDP every eight years. But now it faces weak demand, slowing productivity and an ageing population. We debate if China can beat the “middle-income trap” and what it means for investors. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Is China’s currency called...

What if you could invest in the stock market but not risk losing money? Yes, yes, your alarm bells should be ringing! But that’s exactly what some new funds claim to offer. We take a hard look at structured products and buffer ETFs and ask if they really make sense for investors. And in today’s...

How would your portfolio cope with a severe economic shock? We’ve picked out five different scenarios to stress test our finances, including recessions, depressions, and sky-high inflation. But how should we think about tail-risks, and what we can do to prepare? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Why haven’t wealth preservation funds preserved...

Politicians are tasked with steering the economy and spreading prosperity. But, shockingly, not all of their claims about money and markets stack up. We discuss common misconceptions in politics and the political truisms that mislead us about investing. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: What is insider trading? {{many-happy-returns-links}} {{pensioncraft-links}} {{disclaimer}} {{d-show-copyright}}

How can we maintain our quality of life in retirement without exhausting our funds? We don’t know how long we will live, and the unpredictability of inflation and market crashes combine to make retirement planning one of the most intricate puzzles in investing. We discuss how to manage the risks and what strategies can help...

We’re halfway through the year, and it’s time to take stock. Central banks are approaching the end of the hiking cycle. The S&P 500 has entered a new bull market. And bonds are paying more than 5%. We discuss where the investing opportunities might lie and what risks lurk for the rest of 2023. And...

The UK has the highest inflation of any major economy, and markets expect the Bank of England to keep hiking interest rates in response. But how high could rates go? Will mortgages become unaffordable? We discuss the chances of a recession and whether house prices could crash. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week:...