Share Sounds

Ian Forrest of The Share Centre discusses the recent strength of the stock market. With company reports in full flow, he looks at the contrast between BP and Shell, which has cut its dividend for the first time in 87 years. He also discusses International Consolidated Airlines (parent of BA) and its gloomy outlook and the perkier report from Hikma. Looking ahead, he ponders what we might hear from Intercontinental Hotels and BT.

Adam Cox is joined by wireless internet experts, Tom Izzard and Warren Hampton, to talk about the importance of internet access during the current global pandemic. New research has shown that many Brits feel isolated without an internet connection, so the pair give advice on how to achieve the best connection possible and discuss how the UK is using the internet more than ever before.

Want to keep up with the latest earnings updates from the States? Well join Chris Hill and the Motley Fool Radio Show team here on Share Radio, direct from Washington DC, for news, views and analysis of the US stocks that matter. In this week's show: More than 4.4 million Americans file for unemployment as the total number of unemployed climbs to 26 million; Netflix adds 16 million subscribers for the quarter; Verizon loses subscribers and withdraws guidance; Chipotle gets a big boost from digital sales; DraftKings makes its Wall Street debut; Snap surges on surprising growth; Coca-Cola falls on concerns over declining volume; And Domino’s delivers. Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and Jason Moser discuss those stories and share a couple of stocks on their radar: Masimo and Roku. Plus, Time Value of Money Fund manager Michael Shearn talks about what he looks for in leadership and shares some of his favorite stocks.

Should you save cash and accept low interest rates, or invest and take the risk that you could lose money? This is the perennial dilemma for those with some money to set aside, who are looking to build their wealth. And it’s not been made easier by a rollercoaster 20 years. Since the turn of the millennium, we’ve had three hefty stock market crashes, but we’ve also had the past decade of historically low interest rates. In response to paltry savings rates, more people have been encouraged to invest in shares for a better return, but the coronavirus crash has left the UK’s flagship stock market index, the FTSE 100, below its level on 31 December 1999, and burnt the fingers of many recent investors. So, is it worth investing, or should you just stick with the relative stability of cash? On this episode of the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at our exclusive statistics on who is investing, who is bowing out of the market, and what the new generation of younger investors are doing. They also dive back into the question asked last week: how long do you need to invest for to avoid losing money? With some charts and data sent through to the team by Duncan Lamont, head of research and analytics at Schroders, they compare how putting money into either cash or the stockmarket fared over the past 150 years against inflation – and what the likelihood was of losing money over varying time periods. The team also look at what might happen next to house prices after the coronavirus lockdown put the property market into a deep freeze. Simon dives into the varying predictions of how much property prices could fall – and the bullish suggestion of one estate agent that it’ll all be fine. And finally, we discuss the businesses that we spoke to this week who are fighting veteran insurer Hiscox, because they believed they should be covered against coronavirus with policies that cite infectious or contagious disease… but it says they are not.

This short reading of Night Prayer, without psalms, is taken from 'Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak' published by the Church of England.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks what the unlock will look like and which nations have got right their response to the coronavirus pandemic - if we can yet tell. He examines the power war between China and the United States within the World Health Organisation. And he highlights the project that is keeping track of government interventions and the impact they are having around the world.

Tech maven Steve Caplin delves into the launch of the hugely-funded phone entertainment service Quibi, with some bizarre initial offerings. He recommends some theatre shows to view at home, including the original Fleabag show that became such a hit on TV. He warns of hackers taking advantage of the lockdown situation, explains the origin of the word "phishing" and points out that Google Maps has been updated to show restaurants that do deliveries and takeaways.

James Cameron-Wilson examines the UK box office chart for 2020 before the lockdown began, which contains a few surprises. Moving online, he looks at Netflix's Taiwanese film Tigertale and the Australian perspective of the Vietnam War in Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan. And for his DVD of the week, he reviews the controversial film Blue Story, which was banned from his local cinema.

Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent company news from AB Foods (parent of Primark), Boohoo, Unilever and Taylor Wimpey. Looking forward he considers what we might hear from large companies in the oil, pharmaceutical and banking sectors.

Adam Cox is joined by Jessica Kate, founder of the Inspiring Minds Movement in Australia. Jessica completely transformed her life by making some very big changes,which some would view as very risky – like leaving a successful professional life and marriage to start again from scratch. She lives by the mantra "what you're not changing, you're choosing". Jessica shares tips on how to transform a life, the importance of inspirational role models and what personal development means to her. Find out more on her Facebook page: shorturl.at/bqtCU