Share Sounds from The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks at the bid for Morrison's, explaining why it is attractive and pointing out how cheap the lacklustre UK market now looks for overseas investors. Although the FTSE 100 Share Index has been mostly immune, that's not the case with the 250. Is the UK now open for foreign takeovers and why are a growing number of companies shying away from listing on the stock market altogether?

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at A J Bell, explains why the Bank of England is not about to raise interest rates, despite its forecasts of inflation way about the 2% target. He warns that investors should make sure, however, that they are prepared for higher interest rates. And, in the light of the Prime Minister and Chancellor calling for the institutions to invest in long-term UK projects, he considers why that isn't already happening and what would need to change to make it tempting for them to do so.

Russ Mould of A J Bell considers the results season, embracing companies that helped us get through Covid but are fading now and those companies that suffered and which are now speeding ahead. One almost universal constant, though, is the complaint about higher input costs and staff shortages. Whatever central bankers say, inflation is already here and have a big effect. Which companies are going to be least affected by it?

Laith Khalaf of A J Bell looks at some of the reasons the Bank of England might be right not to concern itself unduly with inflation, with the effects of the oil price and rising wages set to work their way out of the system before long. However, with the call on inflation being so hard to make for certain, he suggests that investors should ensure their portfolios aren't unduly skewed towards a low-interest-rate environment, reckoning it important that they ensure they are balanced.

Ahead of the banks' results, Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell asks if the markets are saying something is not quite right in the sector. With all banks trading below book value, are they screamingly cheap or is it the case that the underlying valuations will prove to be highly inaccurate? Investors' attitudes may depend on whether they are optimistic for the economy as a whole or fear the worst.

Have you seen what's happening to second-hand car prices? Tim Price, director of Price Value Partners, is convinced that inflation is returning and feels he has the most compelling investment opportunity of his entire life. He argues that investors should be inflation-proofing their portfolios and he discusses types of shares, sectors and countries that should fare better than others. He suggests value rather than growth stocks with an emphasis on companies extracting or highly-linked to commodities (at their cheapest in 60 years) while he favours Asia (though not China) and, in particular Vietnam and Japan. If the market falls out of bed, wise investors will have ensured they have available funds to take advantage of the fact that quality investments will be even cheaper than now.

For Tim Price, director of Price Value Partners, the only story in town at the moment is inflation. He places little trust in the view of central bankers that the inflation now being seen will be temporary. With the massive rise of government, corporate and consumer debt in so many countries, he considers the situation extremely dangerous and likely to worsen quickly. Although painting a pessimistic picture, he promises next week to suggest some positive moves worried investors can make to protect themselves.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks at the performance of the UK market in the 5 years since the EU referendum vote, finding its performance poor against all major markets. He feels, however, that might be about to change with aggregate profit estimates being significantly increased in the past three months alone. He is particularly optimistic if growth and inflation surprise on the upside.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks at the rather limited policy options facing the US Federal Reserve and, for similar reasons, the Bank of England. With federal debt mushrooming in 40 years from $1 trilion to $28 trillion and inflation showing signs of returning, what are the Fed's options? Are they right to consider the spike in inflation temporary? What if they are wrong and we return to an inflationary environment after so long with minimal interest rates?

Why invest? Glen Goodman, with the assistance of Annie Weston, explains why investing makes sense and talks you through the merits of the stock market, in this tenth episode of Share Radio's 'Managing My Money' course. What's the difference between saving and investment? It's all in the risk. They discuss shares, bonds and funds, and which perform best over the long term.