Merryn Talks Money

These days, UK energy policies arguably seem more ideological than anything else. But that doesn’t seem to be working, so perhaps it’s time for it to be practical instead? With that in mind we invited Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at the University of Oxford, to join this week’s Merryn Talks Money podcast. He discusses how the UK, which consistently ranks among the most expensive countries for consumer electricity prices, should address its energy problem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's markets roundup, host Merryn Somerset Webb, editor-at-large for Bloomberg UK Wealth, sits down with Noor Al Ali from Bloomberg Markets Live to unpack gold’s remarkable rally and its implications for global markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September signals the end of summer in the UK and the start of the school year. Gearing up to start university can be a daunting time for many young people, often catapulted into a situation of continuous firsts—first time living away, first time having to cook all their own meals and the first time having to manage their own money. On this personal finance episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by award-winning journalist Marc Shoffman to discuss all things student finance.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2024-09-09/merryn-talks-your-money-paying-university-fees-podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll be back next week with more Merryn Talks Money interviews, but for now we bring you an interesting conversation from the Odd Lots team. These days, everyone is talking about high interest rates across the rich, developed world, while warning of eventual fiscal disaster. But we may have gotten an early glimpse of this anxiety in October 2022, when then-UK Prime Minister Liz Truss unveiled her mini-budget that spooked the gilt market. Well today, rates at the long end of the British yield curve are even higher. So what's going on? Why all this angst now about UK fiscal sustainability and the economy itself? In this episode, we speak with Liz Truss about what she learned during her brief time as the PM. She talks about the political reality of fiscal consolidation, and how difficult it is on both the tax and spending side. And we also discuss what her economic vision was really all about, had she not been forced from the position so quickly. In addition, we talk about the general state of politics, the media, and free speech in the UK. Only Bloomberg.com subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox — now delivered every weekday — plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlotsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this news round up episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb has returned from her holiday and is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth. The pair discuss why the IMF won't be bailing out the UK anytime soon, gold's stellar performance, soaring high gilt market yields and the whether the stamp duty regime is all that complicated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the final panel at this year's Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, host Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Richard Wilson, chief executive of one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, Interactive Investor, Anna MacDonald, investment manager at Aubrey Capital, and journalist and author Alex Massie. The episode is taped in front of an audience at Adam Smith’s final remaining home, Panmure House.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Bloomberg senior reporter John Stepek, author Dominic Frisby and Interactive Investor Chief Executive Officer Richard Wilson for a roundtable discussion at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The conversation takes place at Panmure House, the last home of economist and philosopher Adam Smith. The panel share their favorite Adam Smith quotes and their relevance to our current economic and financial climate. They question how relevant the ideas of Adam Smith are today and the lessons we can learn from his writings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith make sense of the economic world that exists today? In this episode of Merryn Talks Money, Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Alec Cutler, portfolio manager of the Orbis Global Balanced and Cautious funds, Tom Slater, manager of Scottish Mortgage and Bloomberg senior reporter John Stepek about how portions of Smith’s bestsellers The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations relate to today’s issues in global trade, technology, renewable energy and investment strategies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers and author of The Humble Investor: How to Find a Winning Edge in a Surprising World, joins Merryn. They discuss his book, why all forecasts are wrong (and why we need them anyway), the case for selling US tech and buying small caps, whether we’re in an artificial intelligence bubble, and Japanese equities.This is a replay of a conversation taped in January this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Stepek, Bloomberg senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter is joined by Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss the unexpected good news about the UK economy, why we’re currently in a buyers market when it comes to housing and why the Bank of England needs to continue to hold its nerve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no tradeoff between net zero and growth in the UK. That’s the conventional wisdom and the position of the current government. But what if it’s the decline in available electricity that’s causing productivity, GDP and living standards to stagnate? Research from Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt, suggests there may indeed be a connection. He joins Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek on Merryn Talks Money to explain that the rise of power-hungry artificial intelligence and the UK’s renewed focus on defense may mean the government should reexamine its energy policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst usual host Merryn Somerset Webb is still out on holiday, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss America's tariff war vs Switzerland, the latest UK fiscal blackhole estimates and Rachel Reeves' job security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Euronext CEO, Stéphane Boujnah to explore the reasoning behind the sense that investors are starting to look away from the US and towards Europe for opportunties. They discuss a range of topics from evolving market conditions, investor sentiment and the growing uncertainty surrounding US economic stability. They also discuss the impact of Europe’s institutional framework on its investment appeal and the role of European market integration in attracting capital. “Europe today is perceived as a large Switzerland. It’s not like everyone is getting fascinated by the growth prospects of European economies,” says Boujnah. “It’s just the feeling is that the institutional framework is stable and predictable.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst usual host Merryn Somerset Webb is out on holiday, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss why America's tariff deal with the European Union is actually quite good, the spat between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and the mood music amongst UK consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, joins hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek to answer a few more UK housing questions. They tackle all the things you need to know if you're considering a retirement apartment, if you're thinking about buying a house via auction, and Paula explains why home buyers insurance is always worth considering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scottish Mortgage Manager Tom Slater joins Merryn Talks Money to explain how the UK investment trust is trying to find tomorrow’s market winners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss falling UK house prices, capital exodus and relocating to west London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss some helpful tips for making the most of your money while on holiday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US equities markets are expensive, by any and all measures. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still have a hefty allocation. That’s according to this week’s Merryn Talks Money guest, Nataliia Lipikhina, head of EMEA equity strategy and executive director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Stepek is on holiday YET AGAIN. So on this week's market roundup, Bloomberg's Morwenna Coniam, who is part of the team that runs the UK Markets Today blog, joins Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb. They discuss UK inflation unexpectedly rising to 3.6%, its highest level since January 2024, and why it's a headache for BOE Governor Andrew Bailey. Plus, a debrief on Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Mansion House speech, the debate around Cash ISAs, and Bitcoin's surge in price thanks to "Crypto Week" in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, taking out a loan or signing up for a new credit card, one number carries more weight than many people realize: your credit score. In this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek are joined by John Webb, senior consumer affairs manager at Experian and an expert on credit scores. Together they explore the world of credit scores—what they are, how they’re calculated, why they vary across agencies and the many ways they can shape your financial future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mining is often an afterthought for many investors. But according to this week’s guests on Merryn Talks Money, it shouldn’t be—especially given its critical role in the global economy and the energy transition (or should we say energy addition?). Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at MKS PAMP, and Evy Hambro, head of thematic and sector investing at BlackRock, join host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss why investors need to pay closer attention to the melt-up in metals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the UK's debt problem. A report from Britain’s fiscal watchdog – the OBR – warns that the country faces "daunting" risks, as a soaring debt load has led to “substantial erosion” of its capacity to respond to future shocks.So how will the government tackle that debt? Everyone’s suddenly talking about wealth taxes - but we might not get the wealth taxes everyone expects. Merryn and John look at why inheritance tax on homes, and capital gains tax, both look like potential targets - and talk about why politics always gets in the way of good policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You want to invest in a market with political stability, low valuations and fast growing companies? Perhaps even one that might benefit from President Donald Trump’s deglobalisation agenda? This week, host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Jose Manuel Silva, chief investment officer and partner of LarrainVial Asset Management, to discuss the place you should be looking - Latin America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about Chancellor Rachel Reeves's tearful appearance in the House of Commons and how that spurred a UK market selloff amid speculation about her future. They also discuss The Times report that AstraZeneca, one of the London market’s top stocks, is thinking of upping sticks and moving to America, and the trend of private equity firms accumulating a record inventory of portfolio companies. Read more: https://mailchi.mp/verdadcap/2024-private-equity-fundamentals?e=0e6992a317: https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/6/stefanik-asks-sec-to-investigate-harvard-for-potentially-withholding-material-information-from-bondholdersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard of Bitcoin, but have you heard of “Bitcoin treasuries?” From Japan’s MetaPlanet to UK firms like Coincilium and The Smarter Web Company, 61 publicly listed companies have now adopted the strategy of holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets—not just as a speculative bet, but as a hedge against inflation and a way to lure investors hungry for crypto exposure. In this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek are joined by Dominic Frisby, author of The Flying Frisby investment newsletter, to unpack this new strategy and whether the hype is grounded in value or hot air.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days after Donald Trump’s election victory in November, we sat down with Pippa Malmgren, founder and CEO of the Geopolitica Institute and former advisor to President George W. Bush, and Helen Thomas, CEO of the consultancy BlondeMoney and former special advisor at the UK Treasury, to ask what they expected out of the US president’s second term. On this week’s Merryn Talks Money, they join host Merryn Somerset Webb yet again. This time to discuss his policies thus far, what they think is going to happen next and what it all means for your investments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek, author of Money Distilled, talk about navigating your portfolio amidst Middle East tensions. The conversation was recorded on Monday afternoon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Authers, senior editor for markets, Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and author of the Points of Return newsletter joins Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek to make sense of the market reaction to the US involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict. Note: We recorded this conversation earlier today, before Iran’s retaliatory strikes at a US air base in Qatar. Traders drove stocks higher as oil tumbled, with the strikes seen as limited and unable to trigger a broader economic fallout.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

StoneX’s Director of Global Macro Strategy Vincent Deluard joins Merryn Talks Money to explain why he thinks economic downturns are going out of style. He also explains why he sees a July Correction, and how MAGA's war on Corporate America will play out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the unsurprising UK inflation figures, the latest Bank of America Global Fund Manager Survey and why gold seems to be shining.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private markets by their very nature lack the same transparency that’s standard in public markets. But Morningstar, a leading provider of independent investment insights and ratings, is conducting more due diligence on private markets to help investors navigate the sector. Morningstar Chief Executive Officer Kunal Kapoor joins host Merryn Somerset Webb on this personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money to tell us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s policies have slowed the economy, making a downturn more likely. But Peter Berezin, chief global investment strategist at BCA Research, says the nation’s yawning deficit is a bigger threat. He joins this week to talk recession odds and strategies for investing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the market indifference to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. They also share strategies for how the government can support the UK equity market: scrap stamp duty, reform ISAs, and nudge pension funds to invest at home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more than $100 trillion wealth transfer that’s projected to be passed down from older to younger generations over the next quarter century is set to reshape the wealth management industry. And younger investors plan to move their money to new advisors, according to a report by IT services and consulting group Capgemini. On this episode of Merryn Talks Money, the firm’s global banking industry leader, Gareth Wilson, joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss why young people want to make the move and what they should consider when choosing new wealth managers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fidelity International’s Dale Nicholls joins this week’s Merryn Talks Money to discuss the Asian giant as a viable place to park your money. He explains China is now one the most innovative economies in the world. Its research and development spend is up forty-fold since 2000, and you can see the results in its clear leadership in electric vehicles, in battery storage, renewable energy infrastructure and increasingly artificial intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg personal finance and wealth reporter Suzanne Woolley joins Merryn this week to discuss her latest in the "Where to Invest" series. She shares the promising investment areas wealth managers and market strategists highlighted in her story on how best to invest $100,000 in today’s turbulent market.The ideas that emerged range from technology — yes, the Magnificent 7 is in there — to insurance and health-care stocks, high-quality fixed income and publicly traded private equity stocks.Read the story: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/how-to-invest-100k-q3-2025/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economist Felix Martin joins host Merryn Somerset Webb for this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money to discuss the common understanding of, well, money. Specifically, why the typical conception of what constitutes it may be inaccurate. Martin, author of the book Money: The Unauthorized Biography and a former fund manager, says that rather than simply being a token medium of exchange, “money” is in fact “a system of ideas; it is the institution of credits and debts. It is the various technologies which have been developed and deployed for recording credits and debts and for transferring credits and debts from one person or one company to another.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author of the Money Distilled newsletter John Stepek, is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist, Marcus Ashworth. Ashworth, covers European markets and was formerly chief markets strategist for Haitong Securities in London. The pair discuss Japan's bond market and what recent market activity means for decision making at the Bank of England. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Money Distilled author John Stepek to answer listeners’ burning personal finance questions. Together, they tackle whether commodities still deserve a spot in your portfolio as the global economy teeters between inflation, geopolitical turmoil and policy shifts. With prices climbing and environmental concerns limiting new supply, is this the new normal or a bubble waiting to burst?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think it’s all over for US markets? Think they’re finally going to sink under high valuations, inflated expectations and now a nervous bond market? Maybe think again, says Ed Yardeni of the eponymous firm Yardeni Research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek, about the latest UK inflation figures, whether there's trouble on the horizon for the bond market and what lessons investors can learn from Australian pension funds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.