Share Sounds. related to Shares - USA

Tesco's announced a £3.7bn planned merger with Booker group, a wholesaler and owner of Budgens and Londis convenience store brands, where are share prices today? While in the US, Google's parent company Alphabet reported Q4 profits were worse than expected but sales were up - and Starbucks failed to meet same store sales expectations. Carla Mozée, Markets Reporter at MarketWatch, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to talk through today's big company stories.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. We’re still on course for Brexit, albeit pending Parliament’s approval. Already a number of banks seem intent on following through on their threats to relocate jobs, but what about the local branches already shutting down across the UK? Meanwhile the FTSE continues to soar on the back of the slumping pound but questions remain as to the underlying health of the UK economy. Inflation also looks set to rise as does national debt although the latest GDP figures do offer some good news at least. To discuss how people can save and invest for the turbulent times ahead Georgie Frost is joined in the studio by Editor Simon Lambert and Deputy Editor Adrian Lowrey. Plus just when BT thought their problems couldn’t get any worse we’ll be announcing the results of the annual Money Mail Wooden Spoon Awards. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Britain's economy grew by 2 % in 2016 but will the growth continue into 2017? While in Europe, Spain backs early trade talks in Brexit negotiations. And the Royal Bank of Scotland has earmarked a further $3.8bn (£3.1 billion) to cover US fines for mis-selling subprime mortgage securities, taking the total figure to £6.7bn. Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets, spoke to Share Radio's Ed Bowsher on these and all the day's big economic news.

WH Smith shares were up on a good trading update with sales of funny 'spoof books' helping the stationer. Shares in Restaurant Group, the company behind chains Frankie and Benny's and Garfunkel's, were down as it reported lower like-for-like sales last year. Tesco faces new lawsuit from US Investment firm, Manning & Napier, which is suing the supermarket over an earlier accounting irregularities. And miners BHP Billiton and Antofagasta reported on good results today. Chris Bailey, founder of Financial Orbit, joined Ed Bowsher, Share Radio's senior analyst to discuss these and more.

Britain's manufacturers are 'firing on all cylinders' - that's what the Confederation of British Industry says in its latest report - but will it last? Three of the five biggest shareholders in FTSE 350 firms have vowed to get tough on executive pay. And in the US, Donald Trump has approved two oil pipelines, is the Trump bump back? Ben Kumar from 7 Investment Management analyses the latest economic news with Share Radio's Ed Bowsher.

Oil prices rose this week on evidence on news that production from OPEC is falling, but an increase in drilling in the United States could keep a lid on prices. Fergus Marcroft, Senior Advisor to investment bank Hannam & Partners, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to explain.

BT shares slumped as the telecoms giant warned again on profits following the Italian accounting scandal, Easyjet results softer on weak pound but strong Christmas sales for Dixons Carphone and posh tonic water company Fever-Tree bubbles along. All the big company news of the day with Financial Times deputy companies editor Daniel Thomas and Share Radio's senior analyst Ed Bowsher.

The Supreme Court's Brexit ruling wasn't a major surprise so why has the pound fallen? BT shares plummeted, US officially exits TPP and will the UK hit its deficit target? Rachel Winter, Senior Investment Manager at Killik & Co, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss the top economic stories of the day.

Want to keep up with the latest earnings updates from the States? We join Chris Hill and the Motley Fool Radio Show team here on Share Radio - direct from Washington DC - each Monday at 6 o'clock for news, views and analysis of US finance. On today's episode: Netflix and IBM reports, funding your retirement and the Motley Fool team's shares to watch.

UK dividends rose 6.6% in the last quarter of 2016 - great news for investors who focus on getting an income from their portfolios, but can it be sustained? And speculation that housebuilders Bovis and Berkeley would merge was triggered by Schroder, Bovis' second largest shareholder, writing to Berkeley suggesting a deal. Ed Bowsher spoke to Ken Odeluga, market analyst at City Index, for more on these and other market stories.