Share Sounds

The slashing of the cash ISA was considered a nailed on certainty in next week's Mansion House speech, but now it seems Rachel Reeves has had a change of heart. So, has the cash ISA allowance been saved for good, or is this just a victory for now — before the axe falls in the Budget? Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss what next for the cash ISA and whether there was any merit in plans to cut the allowance. Plus, why has Nvidia become the world's first $4 trillion company, is it still worth investing in and have you got any chance of finding the next stock market superstar before it takes off? Should you combine your finances with your partner's and reveal all to them? And finally, it's the polarising question of our times: are you for or against Ring and other video doorbells?

Oh yes, we’re talking all kinds of stocks! Jason Hall and Matt Frankel discuss AI stocks in the data center space (including CoreWeave), winners and losers in energy and solar from the Big Beautiful Bill and, with Superman coming out, we rank the intellectual property of Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast, Disney, and Netflix. Then, 19 minutes in, Dave Schaeffer, founder and CEO of Cogent Communications, talks with Asit Sharma and Sanmeet Deo about how Cogent’s deals with customers like Netflix and Meta Platforms work and what keeps him up at night. Finally, 33 minutes in, Jason and Matt talk about Prime Day and other made up holidays and give us the stocks on their radar. Stocks discussed: CRWV, DLR, EQIX, AMZN, MSFT, BEP, BEPC, NVDA, CRM, CSIQ, RUN, FSLR, ENPH, TSLA, GEV, J, CEG, FLNC, WBD, CMCSA, DIS, NFLX, SOFI, CHD. Host - Anand Chokkavelu; Guests - Jason Hall, Matt Frankel, Asit Sharma, Sanmeet Deo, Dave Schaeffer

Taiwan Semiconductor’s earnings beat Wall Street expectations, the housing market is picking up steam after, and TopBuild & Ferrero International go shopping. Tyler Crowe and Matt Frankel discuss Taiwan Semiconductor’s most recent earnings report, the torrid pace of AI spending, lower mortgage rates are taking the cork off existing home sales and refinancing, insulation contractor TopBuild now does roofs, Ferrero International acquires WK Kellogg, and two stocks we’re watching this earnings season. Tickers Mentioned: TSM, NVDA, RKT, HD, BLD, QXO, KLG, KO, PEP, HSY, MDLZ, K, NSRGY, PLD. Host - Tyler Crowe; Guest - Matt Frankel

Resorting to anger as adults can be linked to difficult childhood situations where perceived unfairness can give rise to suspecting others of malicious thinking, rather than neutral motivations where they're caught up in their own world. In contrast to what otherwise might be an instinctive reaction to defend oneself, this episode may help in remaining on the look-out for such situations for thinking differently — giving the ability to neutralise situations before they get out of hand, and to avoid instinctive frustration which can otherwise boil over.

James Cameron-Wilson celebrates a buoyant summer box office climbing another 42% with #1 Jurassic World: Rebirth. But despite a great cast including Scarlett Johansson and director Gareth Edwards, it is very formulaic and feels like a retread of past glories. Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey star in #11 Hot Milk but again, despite such fine actors, it is bafflingly abtruse and so little happens, you might as well see the excellent trailer which even includes the climactic scene. On Netflix, James was disappointed by The Old Guard 2. Much as he enjoyed the first spin on immortaility this one is overbudgeted, crammed full of exotic locations and leaden.

Neil Shah of Edison Group feels BP is going through a transformation under a new management team although, like Rolls Royce, it will take time to gain traction. Reducing debt will make the company a less risky business but it is a key income provider with a progressive dividend policy and a secure income stream so its 6.5% yield is attractive. J P Morgan European Discovery Trust is indicative of the greater confidence in European economies where interest rates have stabilised. The fund has pivoted away from sector bets to stock selection and has an impressive record of finding small companies that prove to be big winners.

Steve Caplin feels sorry for the Norwegian lottery players told they'd won big, only to find it was a basic maths error. Monzo has been fined over "weak financial controls" while the gov.uk app still isn't ready. Amoral AI models gave alarming responses to being told they would be replaced, including blackmail and even contemplation of murder. Project Vend suggests AI isn't the best at operating a cafe. Humanoid robots won't be replacing professional footballers any time soon. There's a credit card-sized pen. NHS drones are going to be more prolific overhead in London. And mould from a tomb has been found to contain cancer-killing molecules.

A comment article in The Times last Friday was headed, 'Starmer and Reeves must change to survive' — but which way? The backbench Labour MP uprising called for even more State spending, but the bond market and the July 22nd ‘Cost of Government Day’ say no — the public sector is already much too big. Of more concern is their preference to go for the 'stick' of welfare reduction rather than the 'carrot' of empowerment through individual ownership and freedom for all, drawing a sharp contrast between this Labour Government and that of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown two decades ago. Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero Image: happier days, from Wikimedia