Walker Crips' Market Commentary

Hosted by Walker Crips Investment Management Limited

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247

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Aug 2026

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About the show

This weekly podcast from the team at Walker Crips Investment Management provides an in depth commentary on the macro economic factors driving global markets, whilst also focusing on individual stocks that are making headlines. This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

September 8, 20268 min

UK borrowing costs bite

Surging higher borrowing costs are expected to create further headwinds for the UK economy ahead of the 28 October 2026 budget, threatening to shrink the Treasury headroom by up to £12 billion, due to the 10-year government debt yields surging past 5.2%, as increasing energy prices reignited inflation concerns, prompting calls for the Bank of England (“BoE”) to pause active bond sales. In the consumer sector, demand figures appear mixed across hospitality and travel. Jet2 reported an 8.8% increase in booked passengers over the summer, reflecting resilient holiday spending, perhaps as a result of the recent heatwaves. Whilst Ryanair reduced its annual passenger target for 2027, issuing a warning that unhedged winter fuel will increase ticket prices if the elevated oil prices persist due to the conflict in Iran.... Stocks featured: Airtel Africa, Experian and Vodafone To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 1, 20268 min

Pressure builds ahead of the budget

Last week in the UK, economic data showed that optimism amongst British businesses grew in August as Lloyds Bank’s confidence index rose to 53%, the highest since the start of the Iran conflict. Business inflation expectations fell to a five-year low, whilst the latest Citi/YouGov survey showed an increase in the general public’s expectation of higher inflation, meaning that perhaps households are bracing themselves for higher prices. These contrasting data indicators can leave the Bank of England (“BoE”) in a difficult spot as rising inflation expectations are directly shifting rate forecasts, forcing money markets to push back expectations for the BoE’s next rate hike to February 2027... Stocks featured: BP, Computacenter and Melrose Industries To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 26, 20268 min

The UK faces rises in energy price caps and inflation

Last week, Bank of England policymakers faced expectations of rates holding at 3.75%, with nearly 90% of economists predicting “no change” despite market pricing for increases. Headline Consumer Price Index inflation accelerated to 2.9% in July from 2.6%, while core inflation held at 2.6%. Although food inflation eased to 2.1%, energy price caps are predicted to rise 4% in October, which could cause further pain for the average Brit navigating the cost of living. Elsewhere, UK economic activity surprised on the upside as the composite Purchasing Managers' Index ("PMI") reached a four-month high of 52.5, propelled by Services PMI rising to 52.8... Stocks featured: Endeavour Mining, Fresnillo and JD Sports Fashion To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 18, 20268 min

UK economy defies expectations

Last week, Bank of England policymakers faced renewed monetary tightening expectations, especially as Chief Economist and Monetary Policy Committee member Huw Pill voted for rate hikes in four consecutive decisions, arguing that resilient quarterly growth of 0.4% in June supports higher interest rates. While Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey had previously downplayed the possibility of rate cuts, comfortable leaving rates on hold, money markets now fully price further increases and anticipate upcoming hikes if oil prices continue to rise. UK Gross Domestic Product surprised on the upside in June by expanding 0.3% against expectations for a 0.1% contraction. This performance was driven by a notable 0.4% recovery in the services sector, with the UK Purchasing Managers' Index reaching a three-month high of 52.1, while total retail sales rose 1.3% in July, supported by a 10% surge in pub transactions.... Stocks featured: Antofagasta, Computacenter and Lion Finance Group To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 11, 20269 min

UK markets face a fiscal reckoning as debt breaches £3 trillion

Last week, Purchasing Manager’s Index (“PMI”) mixed signals pointed to a modest UK economic recovery. Whilst UK business activity saw a first rise in three months, driving the broader economy up, manufacturing and construction remain laggards, meaning that sustainable growth will depend on whether supply chain and inflation pressures continue to moderate. However, the geopolitical reasons are threatening this, as EY points out that the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could cause inflation to double, risking a UK recession. The recent heatwaves are also a threat, hampering retail footfall in July and potentially disrupting supply chains and causing prices to spike. The Bank of England (“BoE”) is also facing some scrutiny over its active quantitative tightening (“QT”) strategy, as the market is getting anxious over the valuation losses which ultimately strain public finances, creating a headwind to rate expectations and overall market sentiment... Stocks featured: Fresnillo, Endeavour Mining and IG Group To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 4, 20268 min

Bank of England keeps rates on hold amid uncertainty

All eyes were on the Bank of England (“BoE”) on Thursday for its latest interest rate decision. The Monetary Policy Committee decided to hold the rate at 3.75%. This dovish stance comes after a split six versus three vote, where investors placed greater weight on the cautious remarks from Governor Andrew Bailey. The BoE remains alert over supply shocks such as oil volatility, food inflation, the easing of price pressures, which fell 0.9%, and a drop in public inflation expectations. Consumers are now drawing down Covid pandemic-era savings to help absorb the current living costs, which in turn is supporting modest retail resilience and pushing business confidence to a four-month-high. Some forecasters are now warning that persistent geopolitical friction and supply risks could weigh on economic expansion well into 2027, meaning the rate path remains complicated... Stocks featured: Burberry Group, Rentokil Initial and Sage Group To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 28, 20268 min

UK is experiencing political shifts with her new Prime Minister

Last week, Bank of England policymakers faced renewed monetary tightening expectations, especially as money markets now fully price further increases and anticipate upcoming hikes if oil prices continue to rise. Elsewhere, the UK Purchasing Managers' Index reached a three-month high of 52.1, driven by a notable recovery in the services sector, and UK retail sales surprised on the upside in June, rising by 1% month-on-month against a consensus forecast of a 0.3% decline.... Stocks featured: Anglo American, Segro and Centrica To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 22, 202616 min

SPECIAL: Walker Crips Podcast (Episode 1)

In the first of our new video podcast series, James Richards and Ben Potter discuss artificial intelligence ("AI") valuations, inflation, gold, gilts and where they see markets going for the remainder of 2026. Listen to the first episode of new Walker Crips podcast. Watch the video podcast on our Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/TjU8ZxXJlIc To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Presenters and contributors to this podcast may hold personal positions in securities, assets, or themes discussed. These views are entirely their own and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction and if you require professional advice, you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 21, 20267 min

Ongoing financial stability risks as inflation nears 3.2%

Last week, Bank of England (“BoE”) Governor Andrew Bailey highlighted clear financial stability risks, noting the central bank must monitor price inflation hitting 3.2%. Consequently, policymakers are facing renewed monetary tightening expectations, especially as money markets now fully price further increases and anticipate upcoming hikes if oil volatility persists. Elsewhere, the British economy grew marginally in May by 0.1%, meeting economists' expectations despite high domestic energy costs persistently constraining broader private sector output. Major investors expect the BoE to slow or halt sales of long-term government debt this autumn as quantitative tightening inflates borrowing costs... Stocks featured: Metlen Energy & Metals, Kingfisher and Antofagasta To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 14, 20267 min

IMF upgraded the UK’s 2026 growth forecast positioning it as the third fastest-growing economy in the G7

Last week, Bank of England Chief Economist, Huw Pill, downplayed any near-term rate cuts, noting the central bank must keep inflation under control. Consequently, policymakers are maintaining a cautious stance, especially as Monetary Policy Committee official Megan Greene signalled a readiness to hike rates if domestic overheating persists. Elsewhere, the International Monetary Fund upgraded the UK’s 2026 growth forecast to 1%, positioning it as the third fastest-growing economy in the G7. However, this contrasted with comments from ratings agency, Fitch, that high debt and inflation-linked servicing costs constrain creditworthiness, while elevated yields reflect monetary expectations and a weaker growth outlook... Stocks featured: Vodafone Group, Shell, St James Place To find out more about the investment management services offered by Walker Crips, please visit our website: https://www.walkercrips.co.uk/ This podcast is intended to be Walker Crips Investment Management’s own commentary on markets. It is not investment research and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or trade in any of the investments, sectors or asset classes mentioned. The value of any investment and the income arising from it is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise, so that you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Movements in exchange rates can have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of any non-sterling denominated investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes advice to undertake a transaction, and if you require professional advice you should contact your financial adviser or your usual contact at Walker Crips. Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 226344) and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.