Podcasts

Crowdfunders is our weekly look at what's hot and what's not in the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer space, examining the latest news and developments in the fast growing world of alternative finance. Your host is Ed Bowsher, and on today's show he'll be taking a look at why the FCA wants to tighten crowdfunding regulations, investigating a peer-to-peer platform with high street branches, as well as getting the scoop on the launch of a new crowd match fund: Big Society Capital.

Oil prices have surged after non OPEC members agreed with their OPEC counterparts to cut production by 558,000 barrels per day, from January 1. This follows an historic meeting of OPEC members who are also cutting 1.2m barrels per day in an attempt to cut the worldwide glut in oil and drive prices higher. For more on this, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined by Roland Head, Oil expert from thefiringroom.com

Oxfam has published a 'World's Worst' list of tax havens today, highlighting 15 of worst offenders in the world of corporate tax havens. Indeed,the charity highlights the how poor countries may be even poorer thanks to tax havens dotted around the world To find out more, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line now by Oxfam's Tax Policy Manager Oliver Pearce.

Storyteller and financial journalist Chris Bishop speaks to Share Radio's Alex Clark, taking you across the continent of Africa for the major stories of the week. On today's programme: Chris and Alex reflect on Nanagate - a scandal that brought down a South African finance minister within days. They also tackle Ghana's recent election, as well as an African billionaire who's feeling the effects of Brexit.

On Sunday President-elect Donald Trump raised questions on whether his administration would continue to shun official contact with Taiwan. The Chinese government has since warned Trump that if he does not continue to respect the One China policy, which acknowledges Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan, the two countries will have "nothing to discuss". For more on Trump's remarks and their significance for the future relationship between the world's two largest economies, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line by Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London.

Oil prices have surged on the news that non-OPEC but nonetheless oil producing countries have reached a new output deal. The move is intended to reduce the global glut resulting from recent entrants- particularly from the US. Investors in the UK are already processing the price boost: yields on 10-year UK gilts have 1.5% for the first time since May. Higher inflation expectations seems to lie behind the rise. For this story and others shaping markets today, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined in the studio by Simon French, Chief Economist at Panmure Gordon.

Half of us overspend in pursuit of creating the perfect Christmas for family and friends, according to new research from TSB. In fact many Brits would sooner get into debt than consider reducing their festive spending. Nick Smith - TSB, Head of Personal Loans told Share Radio Morning’s Melanie Wray what they had found.

Christmas is just over a few weeks away. For many of us...it means spending money we may not have on gifts. But what if you want to reject the pressure to splash the cash and make presents instead? Share Radio Morning's Georgie Frost spoke to Kate Jackson, who is a textile artist who teaches and also makes commissions for books and other crafts.

A new study has found that 77% of us think a smart phone obsession is the most irritating habit a person could have. To find out more, Clinical Psychologist Dr Sue Stebbings and Paul Horlock from Nationwide Building Society spoke to Share's Melanie Wray.

Apparently, a quarter of us are unaware batteries can be recycled resulting in a staggering 10,000 tons of batteries ending up in landfill each year. Once there they can leak toxic chemicals which can contaminate the environment. Our reporter Tom Hill spoke to Chartered Chemist and Environmentalist David Reynolds to find out just how bad the problem is.