Podcasts presented by Ed Bowsher

Data released today shows strong UK PMIs for manufacturing, up from 54.2 to 57.3 in April, beating out analysts expectations. Euro-Area manufacturing was also on the up, growing from 56.2 to 56.7. To discuss the causes behind this and more of the day's big macro news, Ed Bowsher was joined by Mike van Dulken, Head of Research at Accendo Markets.

Today saw the last Prime Ministers' Questions before the end of the current Parliament. Earlier, Labour announced big plans for changes to the NHS, and opposition leader Corbyn and PM May took the battle to this final debate before the General Election. For more, Robyn Dwyer discussed the big political news of the day with John Ashmore, Chief Reporter at Politics Home.

The FTSE 100 opened lower today, in part due to miner Fresnillo suffering earlier in the day, then later Engineer GKN pushed down the index, warning it might not be able to sustain its current growth. For more of the day's big company news, Robyn Dwyer was joined by Chris Bailey, founder of FinancialOrbit.com

The "Macron rally" that marked the start of this week and bolstered European markets seems to have steadied and cooled, with even the FTSE opening lower. To discuss this and more macro news, Robyn Dwyer spoke to Ben Kumar from 7 Investment Managment.

Emmanuel Macron will run against Marine Le Pen to become France's next president. Macron, running as an independent centrist, came ahead of the far-right Le Pen with 23.9% of the vote versus 21.4% for Le Pen. Is this evidence Macron will win, or will the election end with a tight finish? Michael Considine spoke to James Shields, Professor of French Politics at Aston University.

Jeremy Corbyn has spoken today at the Scottish Trades Union Conference. He said he would repeal the Conservatives' Trade Union Act, and also repeated his pledge to raise the living wage and stop the public sector pay cap. Corbyn also spoke of ending "the need for food banks in Britain". Winning speech or empty words? To discuss this in more detail and for some of the other big political news of the day, Michael Considine spoke to Robert Colvile, Editor at CapX.

Luxury goods maker Jimmy Choo has offered the company up for sale after a slowdown in sales in recent years. The company, which is valued at about £700m, could attract the attention of rival luxury brands. For more on this and other company announcements, Michael Considine was joined by Ken Odeluga, Market Analyst at City Index.

European markets have been dominated by the fallout from Emmanuel Macron's victory in the French presidential election. Macron came out on top with 23.7% of the votes against Le Pen's 21.5%. Macron is now expected to win the run-off between the two of them. To look at the economic climate in France in more detail, and for more of the day's big macro news, Michael Considine was joined by Jamie McGeever, Chief Markets Correspondent at Reuters.

The latest finance bill, which follows last month's budget, has ambitious plans to digitise the UK tax system, and it may be dropped altogether because of the General election. Alternatively, it could be rushed through the Commons on Tuesday. The government is set to hold emergency negotiations with Labour over the final bill, attempting to push through and change complex clauses with minimal debate so it can be passed by the deadline on the 25th. For more on this, Ed Bowsher was joined by Anita Monteith, Tax manager at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Ed Bowsher is joined by Asa Bennett, Assistant Comment Editor at the Telegraph, to discuss some of the latest political news from around the world, including the British General Election and the recent attack on policemen in Paris.