Podcasts presented by Ed Bowsher

Two takeover bids for housebuilder Bovis Homes pushed the share price up 9 percent today even as the company rejected the initial offers from Redrow and Galliford Try. The latter remains 'in talks' with Bovis on another bid. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined by Ken Odeluga from City Index for the day's need-to-know company news.

A £2.2bn takeover deal has been agreed between Amec Foster Wheeler and Aberdeen-based Wood Group, creating a £5bn energy services company. And the pound has picked up today despite increasing uncertainty - for more on the big market stories of the day, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.

US non farm payroll figures have been released and the they were stronger than expected with 235,000 position created in February. But wage growth slowed down. We found out more from Gregory Daco, Head of US Economics at Oxford Economics.

UK industrial and manufacturing production has fallen in January - what impact is Brexit and the fall in Sterling really having on the economy? Plus analysis on key US jobs data and more of the day's big economic stories with Viktor Nossek, director of research at WisdomTree Europe.

Shares in BT are up 5 percent as the company ends two years of wrangling over the future of its OpenReach division. Plus insurer Esure shares jump on positive news and Wetherspoons chairman rails against the budget. For all of the day's need-to-know company stories, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with Craig Erlam from OANDA.

Government ministers have revealed a Scottish Referendum is now looking "inevitable". Nicola Sturgeon previously said another vote "makes common sense" and her party would be ready to hold it in late 2018. We spoke to our Scottish correspondent Maurice Smith to find out more.

Philip Hammond's plan to increase national insurance on the self-employed has sparked a rebellion amongst many Tory MPs. The Chancellor argues that the move is "fair" and "necessary".

Cancer diagnostics company Volition announced its results today, and the company confirmed it made significant progress in 2016. The company’s Nu.Q test for Colorectal cancer won a ‘CE mark’ last year which proved that the test was accurate. A final logistics trial for the test is now underway in Denmark and Volition should start generating revenue for the first time this year. Cameron Reynolds, Volition’s CEO, explained to Ed Bowsher what else can we expect from the firm this year, especially as the company now expands outside Europe.

Tom Carroll, Director at Sanlam FOUR, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to look at today's most important economic stories. They talked about Chancellor Hammond facing criticism from Tory MPs over a planned national insurance rise for self-employed; the ECB leaving interest rates and QE unchanged; UK pay growth being at its worst level since the Napoleonic Wars; Pret A Manger facing a staffing crisis because of Brexit.

Profits at Morrisons have risen 40% but why is the share price is down 6%? Plus John Lewis has cut staff bonus for fourth year in a row and Countrywide shares slump to an all-time low. For more on the latest company news, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with Richard Hunter of Wilson King Investment Management.