Share Sounds from The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors

If you missed Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivering his speech on 27 October, here's your chance to hear it. Plus, read our commentary on Monday 1 November for Share Radio's perspective, including our assessment of the contrast with the mid-70s, when public borrowing last hit stratospheric levels.

Laith Khalaf of A J Bell discusses the slight fall in inflation last month to 3.1%, pointing out the distortions caused by the pandemic the year earlier. Markets are betting on the Bank of England increasing interest rates in November, but is it likely to happen? Laith looks forward to next week's Budget, thinking investors may be hit by a hike in CGT. And he also highlights the first Bitcoin ETF launching in the US, giving Bitcoin further legitimacy.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, states the case for us heading into a period of inflation, deflation and stagflation. But which will it be? Cautioning that while it might be too early to tell for sure, investors should not expect more of what we've had for the past decade or so. Russ gives some guides to indicators investors should keep an eye on. He also reminds investors that it is always sensible to have some cash in hand - just in case.

Laith Khalaf, Head of Investment Analysis at A J Bell, discusses the recent sharp rise in gilt yields, explaining why it's happening (rising oil and gas prices and a fear of inflation) and why it is important for everyone, not just those with an interest in fixed interest securities. He also looks at the recent results from Tesco, which pleasantly surprised the market, and explains what the retailer is doing right at a time when one of its competitors has been taken over.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks at the oil and gas crisis, which is affecting many countries, not just the UK. Central bankers are now showing belated signs of being concerned about inflation and possibly even stagflation. With shortages of microchips, fuel, CO2 and even Christmas turkeys, Russ offers advice to investors who may never have experienced a time of stagflation, last seen in the 1970s.

Laith Khalaf, Head of Investment Analysis at A J Bell, looks at the problems of Chinese property company Evergrande and considers what the financial ramifications are likely to be. With the Federal Reserve hinting that it might begin cutting its pandemic stimulus as early as November, he looks at the popularity of the UK government's first green gilt, which could have been sold ten times over, and the impending arrival of an NS&I green savings bond later this year.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, and a history buff, considers similarities between today's financial environment and the closing of the gold window by President Nixon in 1971, since when the dollar has lost 85% of its purchasing power. He explains why it might make sense to buy toys early for Christmas and why investors might want to pay attention to the level of margin debt in the United States (one of the frothy areas of the market), as it has just dipped for the first time since February 2020.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks at the ECB announcement which includes a slowing down of the rate at which it purchases bonds. Although the Fed is pressing on regardless, there are many instances of other central banks tapping the brake pedal gently. Explaining the confiscatory nature of inflation, he says that investors who disagree with the BoE and Fed that inflation is transitory should shun bonds, keep some cash to hand and look at value stocks and companies with branded pricing power.

Lord John Lee has become a champion for people investing in the stock market over recent years: he's written three books on investing, he's a patron of ShareSoc, the society for individual shareholders in the United Kingdom, and he's now challenging Government, broadcasters and regulators to encourage a much higher profile for investing in shares on TV and radio. Gavin Oldham meets with John to discuss the background to his initiative and his proposals for change; and they go on to consider how customer share ownership can be expanded, how to encourage more active participation in shareholder voting, and how to improve financial education

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at A J Bell, looks at the rumours of a bid for Sainsbury's. In the light of the bidding for rival supermarket chain Morrison's, he asks whether private investors should rethink their attitude towards the sector. He also looks at a new service from Paypal allowing UK consumers to trade and hold cryptocurrencies. With a potential (not yet offered in Britain) to process crypto transactions between consumers, he wonders if such a transactional facility is any more than just a sales gimmick.