In this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest UK jobs and retail sales figures [1:45]. Tom Sieber joins the show to discuss the growing trend of companies leaving the London stock market, and what can be learned from the takeover of Alphawave [12:50]. Other big corporate stories include the resignation of WPP’s boss, M&S taking online orders again and the split of Warner Bros and Discovery [21:25]. Talking break ups, we’ve got the latest on the spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Charlene looks at the detail behind the government’s announcement that 9 million pensioners will get the winter fuel payment this year [30:00] and what it might mean for future tax policy. The FCA has led an international effort to crackdown on unregulated financial influencers. [37:30]

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast digests gloomier economic forecasts. Dan Coatsworth explains why investors are still fired up by the defence sector. [04:00]

Charlene Young reveals how much you need to enjoy a certain lifestyle in retirement. [07:55]. She also goes through the mailbag to answer your questions about pensions. [14:10]

Fancy some free shares? There is a growing trend for investors to be gifted stock as companies break into two. Dan Coatsworth has all the info on this week’s podcast. [28:00]

The pod team talk about record inflows into Cash ISAs [33:15], and reveal which age group is benefiting the most from a drop in car insurance prices. [35:110]

Finally, we’re joined by fund manager Laura Elkin who runs AEW UK REIT. Dan quizzes Laura about the latest trends in the UK commercial property market and how the investment trust has helped to bring a former Wilko store back to life. [37:35]

Dan Coatsworth and Laith Khalaf bring you a bonus edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, all about investment trusts.

The pair answer your questions about trusts and talk to a range of experts about fascinating things happening on the market.

Dan chats to Muzo Kayacan and David Barron from BlackRock American Income about the investment trust’s shift to using AI to help find opportunities on the market.

Martin Gamble talks to Mark Boggett from Seraphim Space about why this investment trust is an alternative way to play the defence sector. Martin also debates Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings with Shares magazine’s Tom Sieber.

Finally, we’ve got Simon Barnard on the show to talk about Smithson, the small cap little sister to Fundsmith Equity Fund. Simon talks about narrowing the focus of the trust and why he doesn’t believe having half the portfolio in the US is a currently a problem.