Podcasts

The Conservative party has swept across Britain making big gains in the local elections. The results confirm analysts expectations that a comfortable Tory win is likely in next month's general election. For more on this and the latest political news, Ed Bowsher spoke to Asa Bennett, Assistant Comment Editor at the Telegraph.

Archie Norman has been announced as the new Marks & Spencer chairman. Does this, as well as the appointment of Jill MacDonald earlier this week as Head of Non-food, mean that the previously troubled chain is turning around? Ed Bowsher was joined by Craig Erlam, Senior Market Analyst at Oanda to discuss this and more of the day's corporate news.

Lloyd Blankfein, the boss of Goldman Sachs, has said that the City could stall because of Brexit risks, and is pushing for a transitional period in Brexit negotiations to protect jobs and ensure stability. To discuss this and more of the day's big macro news, Ed Bowsher was joined by Vicky Pryce, from the Centre for Economics and Business Research

Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy, and Chris Bailey of Financial Orbit joined Georgie Frost in the studio. Our question is: In the last 2 years, what do you think has been the biggest financial event? And the guys discussed the biggest market headlines they've come across this morning.

The European Commission has hit back at claims that Brussels is meddling in the general election. Theresa May has accused EU officials of trying to influence the vote by misrepresenting the UK's position. The Commission says it doesn't "Brexitise" its "important policy work", and insists it's "too busy to engage" in the row.

Welcome to the This is Money show on Share Radio. From major supermarkets to micro-entrepreneurs we’ll be focusing on businesses big and small. Growing competition, inflation and a weak pound are all spelling problems for the retail sector whilst plans to scrap tax breaks threaten small businesses with bigger bills. Running through the various other issues from 4G to the strength of the high street Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce. Plus how the new, forgery proof pound coin might not prove as secure as hoped.

We turn to the currency markets now. John Hardy, Head of FX Strategy at Saxo Bank, joined Nigel Cassidy and Chris Bailey earlier to look at the themes and movements in the pound, dollar and euro.

We're recalling the early days of Share Radio now. We've been on air for almost two and a half years. Once person who was here from the very beginning was Billy Bambrough, the editor of economics and politics website verdict.co.uk. And Billy explained what it was like when Share Radio went on air at the very beginning.

British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group has said its first-quarter operating profit before exceptional items rose by 9.7% to €170m (US$186.6mn), up from €155m in 2016 and well ahead of analysts forecast for €140.5m.

Sarah Tucker and Simon are joined by veteran travel journalist John Carter. He reminisces about the vast change in our attitude towards travel in the past two generations.