FTSE vs Wall Street: Can the UK compete?

This week marks a first: our debut guest, Charles Hall, Head of Research at Peel Hunt, joins Sophie (making her own debut as host) alongside Chris Fellingham and Mark “Spice” Holden. Together, they tackle one of the hottest topics in finance right now: what happened to the UK stock market, and can it make a comeback?

From pensions and regulation to stamp duty and sovereign wealth funds, this episode dives into the structural challenges holding the UK back – and the changes needed to make London a top-tier market again.

What’s Hot This Episode

• Global Markets: S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones and Nikkei all hitting new highs
• China Stimulus Hopes: Hong Kong and EMs at multi-year highs
• Gold & Silver: Back at record levels (14-year high for silver)
• Non-Farm Payrolls: Data issues, Trump drama, and what it means for Fed policy
• OPEC Moves: Supply increase offsets Middle East tensions

Guest Spotlight: Charles Hall

• Why UK pensions stopped funding UK equities
• How regulation, taxation, and passive investing reshaped the market
• The shrinking pool of UK-listed companies – and why that matters
• Steps that could make Britain investable again: regulation reform, tax incentives, and financial education
• The case for a British sovereign wealth fund

Portfolio Update

• Performance: +2.59% since launch (up 1.5% this week)
• Winners: VanEck Blockchain ETF +6.3%, BlackRock World Mining +4.7%, Japan +4%
• Laggards: Copper -0.6%, DAX -0.3%
• Debate of the Week: Should the team take profits on gold after a 40% run, or hold on?

❓ Listener Takeaways

• Why all-time highs are normal – not a sell signal
• Cash ISAs vs Stocks & Shares ISAs – what’s better for long-term wealth
• Why UK investors are (unknowingly) funding the US economy
• How better financial education could change investment behaviour

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial planning guidance, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. All portfolio discussions are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk.