Podcasts

The failed attempt by the US food company Kraft to snap up the Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever has been one of the big talking points in the Merger & Acquisitions sector - but what's next? The professional services firm Deloitte has released its 2017 M&A Index which claims that in spite of Brexit and Donald Trump's election as US President, the sector held up surprisingly well in 2016 and the stability has carried over into this year. But will it last, given the prospect of further political turmoil on the horizon? Share Radio's Matt Cox spoke to Deloitte's Sriram Prakash, Global Lead of M&A.

Rising fuel and food prices drove last month's inflation rate to its highest since September 2013 and beyond the Bank of England's 2 per cent target. As measured by the Office for National Statistics' Consumer Prices Index, inflation jumped to 2.3% in February - up from 1.8% in January. Juliette speaks to Pete Comley, inflation expert and author of Inflation Matters.

On the latest Market Wrap: Rising fuel and food prices push the UK's inflation rate to its highest since September 2013, Fever-Tree sets its sights on expanding further into mixers for the dark spirits market due to rising revenues & pre-tax profits rise almost 10 per cent at housebuilder Bellway, due to a shortage of housing in the UK and the government's Help to Buy subsidy scheme. All this and more with Chris Bailey, founder of Financial Orbit.

Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has died at the age of 66. Once a commander in the IRA, he later took on a crucial role in negotiating the peace process as deputy leader of Sinn Féin - but what's his legacy? Plus Labour's underlying civil war takes a fresh turn. The Independent's chief political commentator John Rentoul joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher for more on the day's big political stories.

On Track Record with Sue Dougan this week is entrepreneur, sales expert and author, Gordon McAlpine. Gordon is founder of The Sales Club, has appeared on The Secret Millionaire on Channel 4 and is the author of a new book on business expansion, Scale Up Millionaire. His background is in medical sales, but he's also a motivational speaker and entrepreneur.

Investment in the UK rail network means that 6,400 more train services will be running each week by 2021. That's according to The Rail Delivery Group. The RDG says around £50bn is being spent on the network, which would result in an 11% rise in the number of weekday services. James Brydges spoke to Sim Harris, managing director of railenews.co.uk

This week on Money Fight Club Georgie is joined by Lindsay Cook and Andy Webb. They look at your rights when you buy with plastic - just what is Section 75 and when can and can't you use it? Plus who is in line for the Golden Gloves this week, and what support is there for Britain's growing army of grandparent child carers.

It seems the world doesn't want to hold Europe's debt so much Foreign investors sold Eurozone bonds for the first time since 1999 in 2016, according to the European Central Bank. Overseas bond holders reduced their net holdings of eurozone debt by €192bn last year. The banks Quantitive Easing Program, as well as global political shocks has cooled overseas demand for the continent’s debt. The main candidates in the French elections took part in a TV debate last night.... If far right candidate Marine le Pen wins the presidency, it could trigger a so called "Frexit." Guntram Wolff, director of Bruegel spoke to James Brydges

Upmarket tonic water brand Fever-Tree has seen its shares fall despite its profits more than doubling. Plus betting company 888 posts strong full-year results while housebuilder Bellway raises its dividend. For analysis on the day's top company stories, Paul Sedgwick, Head of Investments at Frank Investments, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher.

The UK's inflation rate jumped in February to 2.3%, according to the Office for National Statistics, placing it above the Bank of England's 2% target rate for CPI inflation. Will inflation peak higher than the 2.8% predicted in 2018? Plus the Bank of England's chief economist Andy Haldane says mediocrity in UK business is to blame for the productivity crisis - is he right? John Barrass, Deputy Chief Executive of the Wealth Management Association, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to analyse these stories and more.