It’s the end of April, and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is looking further away than ever. Its closure looms large over everything else at the moment, and risk asset investors are starting to worry for the first time in several weeks. However, there are still signs of life across the market.

In this week’s episode, we look at some of those rebound stories and discuss whether recoveries can persist in the face of ongoing stress. Michael Fahy discusses the electronics sector – companies such as Renishaw, Oxford Instruments and XP Power, which are belatedly starting to benefit from supplying the semiconductor industry.

We then move to this week’s Big Read on electricity and electrification. Could the defining, if sometimes forgotten, story of the past century be the characterising feature of this century, too? Alex Newman has the answers.

Finally, Julian Hofmann talks about chemicals supplier Synthomer, whose refinancing and improved full-year figures provide the first signs of recovery. It also had some interesting comments to make about the Iran War.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:13 Electronics companies

12:06 Electrification

32:37 Synthomer

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

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Choosing your first stocks and shares Isa can be overwhelming. There are apps, brokerages and dozens of providers, all claiming to be the best. In this episode of Women and Wealth, funds editor Val Cipriani and personal finance editor Holly McKechnie walk you through how to choose the right one for you, whether you're investing for the first time or moving beyond cash savings.

They explain everything from what beginners should look for, which fees really matter, the differences between providers and the common mistakes to avoid. This episode will get you started on the path of investing, with Investors' Chronicle your handy guide as you grow your portfolio.

*At the time of recording, AJ Bell charged a trading fee for regular investing. The provider has since announced that this will be scrapped from May.

Women and Wealth is the monthly podcast series from Investors’ Chronicle. You can listen to and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s another week and another break-up of a FTSE 100 business. This time it’s the turn of Associated British Foods, which has announced plans to spin off Primark into a separate entity. Erin Withey discusses the demerger and explains why management of both businesses will also have their hands full dealing with a range of issues arising from the Iran War and elsewhere.

After that, we delve into investment ideas in robotics, our Big Read of the week. The word robot has been around for a century, and the tech has been present in factories for over 60 years, but could the current age herald a step change in uses of the technology, and more widespread adoption than ever before? Mark Robinson reports.

To finish, we consider US equity funds. With the Magnificent Seven – or certain members of the group – struggling this year, is it time to look at a different set of active managers to gain exposure to US shares? Val Cipriani outlines some potential options.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:12 Primark spin-off
• 12:14 Robotics
• 27:33 US equity funds

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Primary Health Properties (PHP) is one of the UK market’s best-known income stocks.

With a record of 30 consecutive annual dividend increases and the strongest tenant base in the real estate sector, it has long been a favourite of investors looking for a secure, growing yield.

Since chief executive Mark Davies took over from founder and chair Harry Hyman in 2024, the story has been more dramatic. Last year, in a high-profile contest, Davies saw off KKR in its bid for Assura and combined with its major listed peer to form a Reit with £6bn of assets.

We discuss the logic of the deal, the landlord’s relationship with the NHS, debt, politics, why John believes PHP is a “no brainer” investment and the appropriate yield he, Davies and Hyman believe the stock warrants.

Let us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing alex.newman@ft.com

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle by clicking here or heading to Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:42 What is PHP?

05:29 Becoming a growth stock

08:20 Being a REIT

14:49 Maintaining dividend growth

18:60 How new opportunities arise

22:37 How lease negotiation works

26:33 Assura acquisition

34:54 Move to unsecured loans

37:15 The challenge of the political landscape

40:41 Potential for a buyout

45:23 Goodwins update

49:55 Small cap stock update

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode we delve into FTSE 100 testing and assurance company Intertek (ITRK), which has had an action-packed few days: board changes, a strategic review, and a rejected bid offer from a private equity investor. Valeria Martinez explains everything you need to know.

Then we look to renewable energy investment trusts, which have enjoyed increased interest over the past month amid the US/Iran war and resultant rise in power prices. Holly McKechnie tells us which trusts stand to benefit the most, and we consider whether greater urgency over the energy transition means better times ahead.

Finally, we discuss microfinance lender ASA International (ASAI.L), which has been on a tear over the past year. Julian Hofmann reports on what’s been driving the business forward and whether it can continue.

Read more here:

Intertek rejects EQT takeover approach

The complete guide to buying investment trusts

ASA International’s microfinance push pays off

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:01 Intertek

9:45 Renewables trusts

19:19 ASA

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s show we discuss the temporary ceasefire in the Middle East – if it is really appropriate to call it that – and consider whether the announcement has done anything to lighten a global economic outlook that has looked increasingly gloomy for the past few weeks.

Investors have certainly priced in a fair amount of relief. We discuss if they are right to do so, and what happens next. Julian Hofmann has the details.

Our big read this week, meanwhile, is about a continent that could be particularly affected by the energy shock – Africa – albeit, as Chris Akers explains, it’s far from a monolithic bloc and there’s the potential for both winners and losers. Chris tells us about the UK companies that have set up in Africa and why the investment opportunities take in everything from resources to telecoms.

To finish, we delve into specialist engineer Senior, which feeds into many of the hot sectors of the moment, but it’s had a topsy turvy time of it in recent months. That has now culminated in a takeover approach – Mark Robinson discusses whether that represents good value for holders and whether a rival approach could emerge.

Read more here

Ceasefire updates, Shell & Close Brothers: Markets live

How investors can make the most of the Africa opportunity

Senior backs £1.3bn private equity buyout

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:15 US/Iran ceasefire

12:46 Africa

26:20 Senior

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube or by clicking here

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At £5.7bn, Artemis Global Income is one of the biggest global income funds available to UK investors. It posted enthusiastic returns in 2025, well above what you would normally expect from this kind of fund. But has this made the portfolio expensive, and where does it go from here?

Manager Jacob de Tusch-Lec talks to Val Cipriani about being nervous of what comes next, whether the war in Iran means 2022 all over again for stock markets, and how he feels about AI.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:07 What is Artemis Global Income?

02:26 Three buckets

04:21 Importance of valuation

05:40 Recent performance

10:49 Are we going back to 2022?

16:20 AI investments

19:19 Financial industry

24:05 Is there value in the UK?

27:26 Recent changes

32:50 When to sell

34:21 Emerging markets

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.