Podcasts

The London Stock Exchange has raised its dividend 20 percent as the merger with Deutsche Börse looks increasingly unlikely. What does it signal? Plus shares at global ad giant WPP are down 8% and cryptocurrency Bitcoin's outstripping gold on the markets. Craig Erlam of OANDA joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher for more on the day's big company stories.

Today we're talking about cars with the team from Equifax. The new licence plate has just been released. Many of us may be thinking about getting some new wheels. With 3,000 new cars a day purchased on finance deals in 2016, what role does credit information play in car purchases? To find out more, Georgie was joined by Lisa Hardstaff, credit information expert at Equifax and Ed Bowsher Share Radio's senior analyst.

Georgie Frost was joined by Independent retail expert Vix Leyton this morning. Today on the agenda, they discussed how around 2 billion pounds is sitting in forgotten UK investments. A commission set up in 2015 says it'll be given to charity if its owners can't be traced. Plus they look into why women effectively work for free for a fifth of the year. The TUC group of unions says that means working for nothing for 66 days. All these stories and more on The News Review.

New analysis published by the TUC on Friday reveals that the average woman has to wait nearly a fifth of a year (66 days) before she starts to get paid, compared to the average man. The analysis shows that inequality within the workplace is still a major issue. So what do employers need to do to reign in the gap? Scarlet Harris, Policy Officer at the TUC, joined Share Radio Breakfast to discuss.

Theresa May will be in Glasgow today to make it clear keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom is a "personal priority" for her. The Prime Minister will address the Scottish Conservative conference. It comes as speculation continues that First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon could be about to demand the right to hold a second independence referendum. Ryan Heath joined Georgie to discuss what he made of this week’s political agenda and the top stories of the morning.

With the Spring Budget just around the corner, certain industries might be feeling a little worried with tax hikes on the horizon. One of the suggested tax hikes is cigarette tax, with the Chancellor expected to set a Minimum Excise Tax for cigarettes. There are concerns amongst retailers that this tax could have a major impact on their sales, as well as potentially costing UK taxpayers an estimated £1.2 billion in lost revenue. Will Hill, Director of British American Tobacco UK, joined Share Radio Breakfast to discuss this further.

Joining Georgie Frost to discuss the latest market headlines was Share Radio's very own Nigel Cassidy starting with Snapchat of course. The value of the company that owns the smartphone app has soared by almost half after its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. Snap Inc had been valued at 19 billion pounds when it floated. And the company hasn't made a profit since it was created in 2011. Nigel explained to us if this will change now.

In today's world of financial uncertainty, a growing number of people are taking their financial future into their own hands. However, investing can be a bit of a financial minefield even for the most savvy investor. So, what's out there to help those deciding to take the plunge and invest? Master Investor, the monthly e-magazine and daily blog, is there to give a helping hand with investment ideas and analysis. Alongside this, around 4,000 private investors will gather in London on March 25th to attend their annual Master Investor Show. To discuss this, Swen Lorenz, Director at Master Investor, joined Share Radio Breakfast.

Research from Real Capital Analytics has found that Germany's unseated the UK as the most active commercial real-estate market in Europe. It says the data reflects greater caution amongst investors toward Britain after it voted to leave the European Union. But City of London solicitors, Rosling King, who specialise in the sector, paints a rosier picture. They argue the UK will still have one of the biggest and most dynamic commercial real estate markets, regardless of Brexit uncertainty. Share Radio's James Brydges spoke to Alexander Pelopidas, Partner at Rosling King.

It's time to talk politics. On today's programme: the Prime Minister has insisted her plan to trigger Brexit by the end of the month is still on track, despite a defeat in the House of Lords; John McDonnell, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, has thrown down the gauntlet to his government counterpart Philip Hammond; and America's new attorney general is facing calls to resign after it emerged he kept quiet about two meetings with the Russian ambassador last year. Simon is joined by Tom Brake MP, the Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Dianne Hayter, Labour's Shadow Brexit Minister in the Lords, Ann Pettifor, Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics, and William Danvers, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.