Share Sounds

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: An additional 4 million Americans file for unemployment as the total number of unemployed tops 30 million; The S&P 500 wraps up its best month since 1987; Amazon reports surging sales and rising costs; Apple sees strength in services; Mastercard and Visa beat expectations; Alphabet gets a boost from YouTube; Microsoft gets a boost from the Cloud; And Facebook rises on strong engagement. Motley Fool analysts Aaron Bush, Andy Cross, and Jason Moser discuss those stories and weigh in on the latest from Atlassian, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Spotify, Starbucks, Teladoc, and Twitter. Aaron talks about the future of gaming. And the guys share three stocks on their radar: Beyond Meat, Medtronic, and Docusign.

It’s been called the Fomo rally, as shares picked themselves up off the floor after a diabolical March and bear markets turned bullish. The FTSE 100 closed a notch below 5,000 on 23 March, the day it was announced Britain was going into lockdown, but somehow managed to bounce 23 per cent to the middle of this week before slipping back. In the US, April was even more astonishing – the S&P 500 had its best month since 1987. So, what’s going on? Is this the stock market signalling the start of a coronavirus recovery, or have investors merely been piling in driven by Fomo – the fear of missing out. The big US tech names’ star turn has helped drive confidence and in the UK it has been the big names hit hard that have rebounded over the past four weeks, including housebuilders, Next, Cineworld, ITV and the FTSE 100’s top riser is cruise ship firm Carnival – up 63 per cent as brave investors buy in. But are investors getting ahead of themselves and simply all chasing in the same direction like kids with a football? On this week’s podcast, we look at the rally, what’s driving it – beyond Fomo – and the history of false dawns in stock market crashes, known as the dreaded dead cat bounce. Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost also discuss how Britain gets back to business and how the plans might shape up for getting us back into factories, offices, shops, pubs, restaurants and everywhere else. Plus, would you dare book a holiday now? If so, the podcast duo discuss what you need to consider. And finally, the clock has have passed by quickly for a generation of cars that some of us grew up with and the Metro, Fiat Panda and early Vauxhall Astra are now 40 years old, tax exempt, and theoretically classic cars… but are they?

WealthiHer founder, Tamara Gillan, is joined by Annabel Bosman, Head of Relationship Management for RBC Wealth Management UK, to talk about money in relationships and financial chemistry. A particularly relevant topic, as many of us find ourselves under financial pressure and in close quarters with our family. Tamara and Annabel discuss what financial chemistry means, how to get it, and most importantly, how to maintain it!

Adam Cox is joined by Biomedical Engineer, sustainability advocate and surrogate entrepreneur, Karl Ahmed, to talk about the sudden spike in UK BBQ sales. They discuss the trends in BBQ sales and the environmental impact that traditional BBQ coals and charcoals can have. Karl also gives advice on alternatives to have a more environmentally friendly BBQ season.

Adam Cox is joined by Manny Wolfe, the founder of Opus Services and Manny Wolfe brands. Manny explains how social media has levelled the playing field for those with expertise and competency to become genuine global experts. He shares how social media, public speaking and even being featured on podcasts can elevate the position, and increase the audience, of those that are building their profile. Manny also explains how this global expertise can be leveraged to earn a high income, and to create new opportunities to make an impact.

Saving, spending, planning — you've got money questions and we've got answers. Every week host Alison Southwick and personal finance expert Robert Brokamp challenge the conventional wisdom on life's biggest financial issues to reveal what you really need to know to make smart money moves. In this week's show, the team is answering your questions about the wash sale rule, preferred stock, retirement accounts for the self-employed, and more with the help of Motley Fool Contributor Asit Sharma.

Political commentator Mike Indian considers what difference it will make to control of the crisis having Boris Johnson back in harness. He considers the wisdom of Matt Hancock's testing target, where blame lies with the shortages of PPE, asks whether NHS bureaucracy will be cut back after the pandemic and marvels in how well the virtual Parliament has been working.

Steve Caplin talks all things tech, marking the 25th anniversary of GPS. He tells us about a robot dog triaging patients in a Boston hospital, at Channel 4's idea for dogs snooping Through The Keyhole and how, in lockdown, a new app can help you connect with random strangers. He offers advice for having parties on Zoom, discusses a robot that eats metal, a bit of PPE kit that resembles a large beekeeper's helmet and carbon threads that can store mechanical energy.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the often-surprising list of the most-streamed movies on Netflix in the United States. He looks at the online premiere of exciting action thriller Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, as well as the unsettling Dutch drama We. His DVD of the week is Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen.

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.