Share Sounds from Share Radio Breakfast related to Banking

The banking results season is underway. HSBC reported on Tuesday, Lloyds and Metro Bank on Wednesday, and RBS will be reporting on Friday. So how is the industry looking? Paul Sedgwick, Head of Investments at Frank Investments, joined Nigel Cassidy on Share Radio Breakfast to discuss.

Despite innovations in finance, banks are still the primary source of funds for business. But for the crucial high-growth sector, equity finance can be a better choice - the question is, how do you get your hands on it if you're in the regions? A report from the Institute for Public Policy Research has looked at how to make equity more equitable. Share Radio's Peta Fuller reports.

The face of high-street banking is rapidly changing, given the number of branch closures and the introduction of robo-advisors that are slowly disrupting the industry. Yet when it comes to buying a mortgage or making a large investment, most people prefer face-to-face advice. So, what is the future of banking? Raj V S, Head of Financial Services at the technology firm Syntel, joined Juliette Foster on Share Radio Breakfast to discuss.

Barclays has agreed to sell its French retail banking operations to European private equity firm, AnaCap Financial Partners. This follows the UK bank’s decision to sell its credit arms in Spain and Portugal. The bank says it's going to focus on its core markets in the UK and US. So is this the Barclays equivalent of Brexit? Share Radio’s Matt Cox spoke to Jeremy Cook, Chief Economist from World First, to find out more about the decision and what it will mean.

Mike van Dulken, Head of Research at Accendo Markets, joined Share Radio Breakfast to offer an immediate reaction to the release of the Bank of England Stress Test results. Were there any major surprises?

In a big week for banks, we'll get a much-awaited snapshot of how well our best-known banks may hold up if there's another economic downturn, with the reveal of the Bank of England's "stress tests" results. Meanwhile, a conference being held in the City of London will hear that investors can use simple techniques to pick out the higher quality banks for themselves. Share Radio Breakfast's Nigel Cassidy has been hearing from Bruce Packard, a banking industry specialist from the Lafferty Group, who will lead the conference debate.

Official figures from the British Bankers' Association (BBA) show that consumer credit expanded last month at the fastest pace in nearly ten years. Mortgage approvals meanwhile hit a five-month high. Alastair Douglas is the Chief of TotallyMoney.com, the price comparison site focusing on credit cards, loans and mortgages. Alastair has been digesting these latest borrowing trends and he joined Share Radio to delve into the findings.

Glastonbury may boast the world's best-known outdoor music festival, but one essential thing the Somerset town has been lacking since the spring is a bank branch. But within the last few days it has emerged that the Nationwide Building Society has shown some interest in stepping into the breach. Nationwide Director, Graeme Hughes, told Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy that potential premises are now being lined up and he hopes to open a bank in the New Year. He says the reason the society thinks it can make a success in Glastonbury is the fact that it's using newer technology.