Podcasts

Just how does the mythical and bizarre world of credit ratings really work? How can you improve your score and what does the figure even mean? On this week's podcast, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce join presenter Georgie Frost to discuss this and how one unknown fraud marker on a Cifas file left a reader with a 'do not employ' status when looking for job. Whisper it: but there could be a cash Isa season this year. For years, banks and building societies scrambled to offer attractive rates – and 2018 could see the tax-free accounts finally en vogue once more.

There’s been a panic in the stock markets in recent weeks after the Dow Jones plunged more than 1000 points on a single Monday in the first week of February. When the stock market plunges should we all be worried? Or does it only affect those wealthy enough to be trading? This week, Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined by Frank van Lerven, NEF economist, and Anna Isaac, economics correspondent at The Telegraph.

After the market wobble three weeks ago, it looks like share prices will probably be more volatile in 2018. How should investors position their portfolios to cope? Should they put money into ‘diversifiers’ like Gold? And can ETFs help? In the latest edition of the Big Call, Ed Bowsher finds out by chatting to Oliver Smith of IG Smart Portfolios and Sean Corrigan of Cantillon Consulting.

Following new research which reveals that two thirds of us don’t love the home we live in, Adam Cox talks to Will Jones and Andrew Weiss of BHETA. They discuss the emotional aspect of home ownership, home improvements and renting, as well as how a bit of courage and enthusiasm could be an opportunity to create huge equity in your property – and to climb the property ladder.

James Hookham comes from an environmental background where he was a specialist in the transportation of dangerous chemicals. He's also written extensively about transport logistics, environmental concerns and logistics technology. He's worked as a journalist for trade publications before joining the Freight Transport Association. He's 30 years in a number of roles at the association., where he is deputy CEO, overseeing road, rail, air and sea freight.

Political commentator Alex Clark looks at the Cabinet Away Day at Chequers and wonders if anything solid will result from it. He ponders Theresa May's speech on education, looks at the allegations that Jeremy Corbyn might have been a Czech security service asset and looks at what it means that Martin Selmayr has been appointed the EU's top civil servant.

Ian Forrest, Investment Research Analyst at The Share Centre, looks back at figures from Reckitt Benckiser and banks HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays. With the annual results season in full swing, he looks ahead to numbers from ITV, WPP and Persimmon.

Steve Caplin looks at Apple's wood-staining Homepod speaker, the Winter Olympics drones nobody could see, ultra-strong "Super Wood", the LED lantern powered by a tea light, the fake news online game and the app that reminds you five times a day that you're going to die.

James Cameron-Wilson examines the extraordinary box office debut of Black Panther, reviewing that along with BAFTA success The Shape of Water and Oscar-nominated Lady Bird. With the singalong version about to be launched he points out that The Greatest Showman has become the most successful ever original live-action musical and takes a look at the BAFTAs and what they might mean for the Oscars.

Interest rates are going to rise in May, if you believe economists, but will things get better or worse for you if they do? Rising rates are often painted as bad news but for many a world in which they go up will look more enjoyable. What would be even more pleasurable is being paid more, so is Britain really finally about to break out of its low wage growth trap and get a pay rise? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus discuss why we don’t get paid enough, what we can do about it and how to look on the bright side of rising interest rates. Contrasting news on the struggles of first-time buyers, at the same time as they are at their highest level for a decade, is also on the agenda.