Share Sounds

This is Share Radio News Hour with Ed Bowsher. Shares in Marks and Spencer are climbing today after retailer's Christmas update revealed rising sales in clothing and homeware. Does this mean that M&S is finally turning round its long-troubled clothing business? Ed will find out from Richard Hunter of Wilson King Investment Management, as well as the latest fortunes of several other big retailers including Tesco, Mothercare and AO World. The FTSE is currently down just three points at 7287 following its record-breaking 12-day winning streak. For more on this, Nandini Ramkrishnan, Global Market Strategist at JP Morgan, will join Ed in the studio. After the 1:30 headlines, we'll be looking at the fallout from Donald Trump's extraordinary press conference yesterday. Ed will be speaking to Chris Gilson, managing Editor of the LSE Politics blog, for his take on that. And finally, Ed will be asking his former boss, Merryn Somerset Webb, to tell us what's in this week's edition of MoneyWeek magazine. All that and more on today's edition of the Share Radio News Hour.

It's that time of the day where we get a view from ..... This week, it's renowned economist, Doctor Steve Keen, Professor of Economics, at Kingston University.

US president-elect Donald Trump has given his first press conference since last July - in an address that was light on fresh detail from the incoming leader. Trump confirmed he would 'repeal and replace' Obamacare once a secretary was appointed and again hit back at allegations Russia has compromising material on him. Robyn Dwyer was joined all the way from Washington DC by William Danvers, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, who formerly served under Leon Panetta at the CIA and John Kerry at the State Department.

For a full festive roundup of the retail sector, Robyn Dwyer was joined on the line by Ray Gaul, Vice President of Research and Analytics at Kantar Retail.

Earlier today, Theresa May took to the dispatch box for her weekly session of Prime Minister's questions. The NHS was top of the bill. For more on this and the rest of the day's political news, Robyn Dwyer was joined by Ian Dunt, editor of politics.co.uk and author of Brexit: What The Hell Happens Now?

How exactly should you be allocating your assets? It can be difficult figuring out what information you should be taking into account - whether it be government policy, interest rates, and all other manner of economic jargon. To help demystify asset allocation, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Ed Smith, Asset Allocation Strategist at Rathbone Investment Management, to find out: what exactly is asset allocation?

The essential market stories for today including: - The immediate 'Brexit risk' to the UK economy has declined, according to Mark Carney - Sainsbury's posts record Christmas sales - Cineworld takes Rogue One to the bank - Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey predicts higher profits Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, joined Share Radio's Robyn Dwyer to talk through these and more.

Prior to the election of Donald Trump, we saw increasing evidence that global activity had been improving. Stronger nominal growth also meant a return to positive 'corporate profit' growth, and it was anticipated that this would continue to improve over the next 12 months. But can this continue once Trump is inagurated later this month? Matt Cox spoke to Standard Life Investments' Chief Economist Jeremy Lawson, to examine the trajectory of global growth and the possible economic implications of a Trump presidency.

How exactly should you be allocating your assets? It can be difficult figuring out what information you should be taking into account - whether it be government policy, interest rates, and all other manner of economic jargon. To help demystify asset allocation, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke to Ed Smith, Asset Allocation Strategist at Rathbone Investment Management, to find out: what exactly is asset allocation?

Xavier Rolet, CEO of London Stock Exchange and Douglas Flint, chairman of HSBC, have told MPs that the City needs a three-year delay to Brexit to give businesses time to adjust to the UK's new relationship with the EU. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with David Buik, Market Commentator at Panmure Gordon, to find out if Rolet and Flint are right.