In this week's market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack Next’s half-year report to reveal what falling vacancies, rising applications, and higher labor costs say about jobs, productivity, and AI. They also break down the Bank of England’s rate hold, the Fed’s cut, and what diverging policies mean for growth, inflation, and investors.

https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/next-plc-v4/documents/2025/half-year-results-july2025.pdf 

In this week's market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack Next&rsquo;s half-year report to reveal what falling vacancies, rising applications, and higher labor costs say about jobs, productivity, and AI. They also break down the Bank of England&rsquo;s rate hold, the Fed&rsquo;s cut, and what diverging policies mean for growth, inflation, and investors. <a href="https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/next-plc-v4/documents/2025/half-year-results-july2025.pdf">https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/next-plc-v4/documents/2025/half-year-results-july2025.pdf</a>&nbsp;

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money

UK Jobs Squeeze, AI Disruption, and Diverging Rate Cuts

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ec54dcb7-8b7f-4af7-af36-b35d00e2768d/transcript

On this week’s market round-up edition of Merryn Talks Money, Bloomberg senior reporter and author of the award-winning Money Distilled newsletter, John Stepek and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth discuss why falling London flat prices but rising costs mean bargains may still be illusory. They also dissect the latest moves in commodities and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves's cunning plan to quietly reshape the gilt market.

On this week&rsquo;s market round-up edition of Merryn Talks Money, Bloomberg senior reporter and author of the award-winning Money Distilled newsletter, John Stepek and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth discuss why falling London flat prices but rising costs mean bargains may still be illusory. They also dissect the latest moves in commodities and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves's cunning plan to quietly reshape the gilt market.

Silver’s Surge, Oil’s Bounce, London Flat Prices and the Quiet Gilt Rally

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/261236d6-4db8-4b52-a294-b3d30143e6a2/transcript

 

Most people spend their working lives earning and saving toward a financial goal. This goal can be a number or something more tangible like a paid-off mortgage. But when you’ve spent decades feeding the same frugality habit, entering retirement and reversing that addiction can be an unfamiliar challenge. Retirement also has a tendency of throwing up questions of status, belonging—and of course, mortality.

In this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek confront a difficult listener question on the topic of retirement spending. How can a person start spending freely when their attitude toward spending has been the opposite most of their life? Chartered financial planner and Director at Flying Colours Advice, George Agan joins this episode to share his insights on what to do.

Resources from George to check out if you want to learn more: 

This is a video with an overview on how to build your own model:
https://youtu.be/7Wkr5QtY-G8?si=5ev22MOHQhl5Qvgq

Course to consider: 
https://meaningfulacademy.com/rp-1/

And a link to George's firm: 
https://fcadvice.co.uk/


 

&nbsp;
Most people spend their working lives earning and saving toward a financial goal. This goal can be a number or something more tangible like a paid-off mortgage. But when you&rsquo;ve spent decades feeding the same frugality habit, entering retirement and reversing that addiction can be an unfamiliar challenge. Retirement also has a tendency of throwing up questions of status, belonging&mdash;and of course, mortality. In this week&rsquo;s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek confront a difficult listener question on the topic of retirement spending. How can a person start spending freely when their attitude toward spending has been the opposite most of their life? Chartered financial planner and Director at Flying Colours Advice, George Agan joins this episode to share his insights on what to do. Resources from George to check out if you want to learn more:&nbsp; This is a video with an overview on how to build your own model: <a href="https://youtu.be/7Wkr5QtY-G8?si=5ev22MOHQhl5Qvgq">https://youtu.be/7Wkr5QtY-G8?si=5ev22MOHQhl5Qvgq</a>
Course to consider:&nbsp; <a href="https://meaningfulacademy.com/rp-1/">https://meaningfulacademy.com/rp-1/</a>
And a link to George's firm:&nbsp; <a href="https://fcadvice.co.uk/">https://fcadvice.co.uk/</a> 
&nbsp;

You’ve Spent Your Life Saving. Now Learn How to Spend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f928a340-ebb0-4f52-a04a-b3d200b20cd7/transcript

Societe Generale Head of FIC and Commodity Research Michael Haigh joins Merryn Somerset Webb to break down why the US attack on Venezuela and any subsequent attempt to reboot its energy industry is unlikely to change oil prices near-term. He explains why markets are more influenced right now by OPEC’s supply decisions and China’s rapid strategic petroleum reserve buying—and warns prices could fall if China slows purchases. The conversation then turns to a bullish outlook for copper, driven by electrification, artificial intelligence and data centers, as well as defense spending. Plus, Haigh argues gold and silver still have upside—gold on sustained central-bank demand and silver on persistent deficits—while noting key risks if central-bank buying or global uncertainty meaningfully eases.

Societe Generale Head of FIC and Commodity Research Michael Haigh joins Merryn Somerset Webb to break down why the US attack on Venezuela and any subsequent attempt to reboot its energy industry is unlikely to change oil prices near-term. He explains why markets are more influenced right now by OPEC&rsquo;s supply decisions and China&rsquo;s rapid strategic petroleum reserve buying&mdash;and warns prices could fall if China slows purchases. The conversation then turns to a bullish outlook for copper, driven by electrification, artificial intelligence and data centers, as well as defense spending. Plus, Haigh argues gold and silver still have upside&mdash;gold on sustained central-bank demand and silver on persistent deficits&mdash;while noting key risks if central-bank buying or global uncertainty meaningfully eases.

Venezuela’s Oil Reserves Versus Reality: Why Output Can’t Jump Overnight

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/295b22c6-7573-46f2-91a7-b3cf01077563/transcript

UK Jobs Squeeze, AI Disruption, and Diverging Rate Cuts

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