Share Sounds

Regular listeners to the show will know that our Apprentices are four members of the Share Radio team who've each been given fifteen thousand pounds of virtual money to build their own share portfolios. They have a minimum of eight stocks, which they've been buying and selling through The Share Centre. Share Radio's Simon Rose was joined by Apprentices Matt Cox and Valsa De Winter. Standing by with advice and useful observations is Share Radio's Senior Analyst Ed Bowsher.

Time for our regular weekly programme "The Investment Trust Show" brought to you in association with Henderson Global Investors. Each week we explore the main features, factors and developments affecting investment trusts. This week we took a look inside the portfolio's of investment trust specialist John Baron. Share Radio's Simon Rose was joined in the studio by John Baron and Share Radio's Senior Analyst Ed Bowsher.

British consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Nurofen amongst many other brands, is in advanced talks to buy baby formula company, Mead Johnson. Plus results from Shell, AstraZeneca and Vodafone - who's doing well and who's struggling? Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with Richard Hunter, Head of Research at Wilson King Investment Management, for his take on the day's big company news.

It's time for our weekly catch up with MoneyWeek magazine, not with Merryn Somerset Webb this week, instead with John Stepek, Executive Editor of the magazine. John joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher on the line to preview articles from this week's issue.

The Bank of England has raised its forecast of economic growth to 2% this year, up from the previous forecast of 1.4%, with an increase from 1.5% to 1.6% for next year. The base rate is unchanged at 0.25% and the bank's quantitative easing or money-printing programme will also continue as planned. The Bank's announcement has triggered a 0.8% fall in the pound at $1.26. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to cover the big economic news of the day, including the government White Paper, Reckitt Benckiser's deal and more.

How important is imagination? And is there a science to it? Georgie was joined by Jerry Rhodes, author of a book that tackles this very subject... his book " I Wonder: The Science of Imagination" tackles the mysterious subject of imagination through a scientific lens.

Tempted to go self-employed but worried about the costs? You're not alone? According to research whilst two fifths of us want to be our own boss less than five percent actually plan to go it alone in the future. Going self-employed can offer many advantages, not least flexibility and more family time, however many are put off by financial uncertainty. To find out more about what's holding us back Share Radio's Tom Hill spoke to Jackie Leiper from the Centre for the Modern Family.

Today is Time to Talk Day, where we're being encouraged to talk more openly about mental health. The day has been launched by mental health campaigners Time to Change, and as part of their research they have revealed that of those who have experienced stigma and discrimination, almost 1 in 5 lost their job. Joanna Kowalski is from the charity and joined Georgie to discuss more.

The Bank of England has raised its forecast for economic growth this year, the bank now expects growth of 2% this year up from the previous 1.4% forecast. The base rate has been left unchanged at 0.25% and the quantitative easing programme will continue this year as planned. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Philip Booth, Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary's University to get some analysis on this. Philip is also a former adviser to the Bank of England on financial stability issues.

The Government has now published its Brexit White Paper. David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, reiterated a 'mutually beneficial' exit would be crucial. To discuss this in more detail, and the wider Brexit situation, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined on the line by Joe Owen, Researcher at the Institute of Government.