Podcasts

Investment Perspectives: As you've been hearing in the news, the International Monetary Fund has warned that Europe faces severe economic and political damage if Britain votes to leave the EU in June's upcoming referendum. In its latest global update the IMF claimed a BREXIT would disrupt established trading relationships and cause "major challenges" for both the UK and the rest of Europe. Campaigners who want Britain to leave Europe say that IMF forecasts about Britain and other countries had been "consistently wrong" and that the biggest risks were "remaining in an unreformed EU". Arguments over whether Britain should stay in our out of Europe are of limited help to investors looking to position their financial portfolios in the run up to the vote. So where are the safe havens to put the money? Is it worth making any plans or should investors just sit tight and see how the drama plays out? Nizam Hamid, ETF Strategist at WisdomTree Europe and he joins Investment Perspectives presenter Juliette Foster, in the studio.

Its been almost four months since Spain's general election resulted in the radical left wing "Podemos" party holding the balance of power in the country's traditional two party system. Europe's governing elites could only look on as Spaniards - tired of corruption scandals, relentless austerity and high unemployment - defied convention to embrace a party that had only been around for less than two years. However election euphoria soon gave way to political stalemate and this week Podemos members are expected to vote on whether the party should support or oppose a deal to form a coalition government. Failure to cut an agreement could see Spain heading back to the polls in June. Joining Juliette Foster of Investment Perspectives in the studio is Doctor Carlos Oya of the University of London, and Professor John Weeks Share Radio's regular economics commentator.

The Office for National Statistics has released its latest round of statistical bulletins. Among the bundle is the House Price Index which shows that UK house prices continue to rise. With new analysis showing that house prices have increased by 47,000% during the Queen's lifetime, Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen examines the state of Britain's housing market.

Jack Sommers, of The Huffington Post, discusses the latest in the world of politics. Among the topics covered, Jack discusses the MPs publishing their tax returns, the return of David Miliband to British politics and mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan, who exclusively told The Huffington Post that Zac Goldsmith’s divisive campaign is putting Muslims off taking part In politics.

Gadgets and Gizmos with Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin.

A very good afternoon and welcome to today's edition of the Apprentice Investor. Regular listeners to the show will know that our Apprentices are five members of the Share Radio team who've each been given fifteen thousand pounds of virtual money to build their own individual share portfolios. They have a minimum of eight stocks, which they've been buying and selling through The Share Centre. So, how well are they doing? Are they feeling in a celebratory mood or is it a day for drowning sorrows? Juliette Foster welcomes apprentices Olivia Demetriades and Matt Cox, and Share Radio's Senior Analyst Ed Bowsher.

Can money be made from businesses that follow a social and environmental agenda? You might think the answer to that is "No" yet you couldn't be more wrong? Go through the pages of crowd funding sites and you'll find hundreds of businesses whose financial objectives are underpinned by a strong commitment to social and environment issues. One example is a company called "The Wave". Founder Nick Hounsfield has turned a passion for surfing into a major project that brings together people of all ages and social groups, with the help of a lake and some cutting edge technology. Chris Hines is the project's "Head of Sustainability" while Christopher and Jenna Gordon are investors and members of "The Wave" board. All four of them join Juliette Foster in the studio.

This is Conversations From Africa, with Chris Bishop, Managing Editor of Forbes Africa Magazine & Share Radio's Patrick Jones. In this weeks edition - major news from South Africa as the President Jacob Zuma has succesfully managed to avoid impeachment despite heavy opposition. With notable public figures now saying he should do the honorable thing and step down, will he bow to the pressure? Other topics include South Africa's manufacturing sector seeing growth despite the countries economic woes, an address by Robert Mugabe to thousands of war veterans in Zimbabwe, plus South Africa avoiding a major strike.

Arguments have been made for and against leaving the EU on a political and economic basis, but what about an ecological one? An EU Referendum debate due to take place will look at the environmental impact of a Brexit. Matt Cox spoke to Martin Harper, the Director of Conservation at UK charity the RSPB, who explained natures relationship with politics and how the system currently works.

Beset by its longest recession in 20 years, Russia is losing the economic prosperity that many Russians had regarded as the hallmark of Vladimir Putin's rule. But the Russian leader, who was heavily implicated in the Panama tax papers, remains hugely popular and a strong figure abroad. Robert Van Egghen examines whether further economic issues could unravel Putin's rule.