Podcasts

Donald Trump is speaking to Congress tonight. Shares in American Construction-materials companies rose in anticipation that he might finally make good on promises about a massive infrastructure-spending programme in the US. Trump also says he'd boost defense spending by $54bn in his proposed budget plan for 2018, which is about a 9% increase. Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy was joined by Jeremy Cook, Chief Economist at Worldfirst.

Sir John Major is urging Theresa May to use "a lot less cheap rhetoric" into Brexit negotiations. The former Conservative Prime Minister, who campaigned for Remain ahead of the referendum, says he's worried the exit deal will fall "well below the hopes and expectations" that have been raised. Here's a excerpt from the speech he gave to International Affairs thinktank Chatham House.

Average car insurance premiums could increase by up to £75 a year as a result of a government ruling. It's because a new formula for calculating compensation payments for those who suffer long-term injuries has been announced by the Ministry of Justice. Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy was joined by Malcolm Tarling, from the Association of British Insurers to discuss.

The €29bn euro merger of the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse could collapse after the LSE said the deal was unlikely to be approved by the European Commission. The commission had ordered the LSE to sell its 60% stake in MTS, a fixed-income trading platform, which the stock exchange described as "disproportionate". A spokesperson for Theresa May said the merger was a "commercial matter." Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy was joined by Mike van Dulken, Head of Research of Accendo Markets.

Technology is changing almost every aspect of daily life and business and finance is no exception. Share Radio's Simon Rose and Steve Caplin, Share Radio's technology editor, look at the big technological changes that impact on the world of business, finance and money as well as some of the gadgets that help make everyday life a bit easier. On today's programme, they head back to the 80s, a time of big hair and small RAM, for a Sinclair Spectrum comeback.

Crowdfunders is Share Radio's weekly look at the peer-to-peer and crowdfunding space, examining the latest news and developments in the fast growing world of alternative finance. On today's show, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher hears why Zopa is going back to basics and applying for a conventional banking license, as well as why the Innovative Finance ISA is taking so long to roll out.

It's time to talk politics. Simon was joined by Jerry Hayes, former Conservative MP and now barrister and political commentator, and Maurice Smith, Share Radio's Scottish correspondent, to discuss how Theresa May could also be unleashing a second Scottish independence referendum when she pulls the Brexit trigger.

Share Radio's Simon Rose brings you Market Wrap, a roundup of what's been happening in the businesses of Britain and the world. To help rattle through the day's events, Simon was joined by Ed Bowsher, Share Radio's Senior Analyst. They discussed: the merger between the owner of the London Stock Exchange and Germany's Deutsche Boerse has been thrown into doubt; changes to compensation payouts are expected to lead to a sharp increase in the cost of motor and business insurance; and the pound has dropped after the Times reported Number 10 is bracing for Scotland to call for an independence referendum.

Donald Trump's administration could abandon the World Trade Organisation when it comes to resolving any future trade disputes. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher asked Dr Federico Ortino, Reader in International Economic Law at King’s College London, for more on why the new president might try this approach.

It was an Oscars to be remembered, but possibly for the wrong reasons. La La Land was incorrectly announced as Best Picture winner but Moonlight actually took the gong. PwC, the firm responsible for handing out the verdicts, has come under severe criticism for the blunder. Film critic James Cameron-Wilson joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss what happened.