The big investment trust vote, UK retail’s tough outlook and the future of Lifetime ISAs

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, we dive into a story about seven investment trusts under attack from an activist investor. The big retail companies have started to report on Christmas trading and not everyone is smiling about the outlook. You can also hear about the changing cost of keeping the lights on at home and why the Lifetime ISA is under review.

There’s been a sell-off in UK government bonds and the pound, causing jitters on the market at the start of the new year. Dan Coatsworth explains what’s going on. [00:02:06]

Hedge fund Saba Capital has got its sights on the UK investment trust sector and wants to get behind the driving seat of seven names including Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust and Herald Investment Trust. Dan takes a closer look and chats about why it’s so important for investors to vote on the proposals and what could happen next. [00:05:14]

Sue Inglis, an independent non-executive director from Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, is on the podcast to share her experiences of being on the receiving end of an activist investor attack, and her thoughts on Saba’s proposals. [00:11:25]

Gas and electricity bills went up again on 1 January, when the latest energy price cap took effect. Charlene Young considers the impact to UK households and what they can do about it. [00:19:08]

Following a miserable final quarter for UK retail, we’ve now got a host of shopkeepers updating on trading and giving guidance for the year ahead. Tom Sieber looks at what Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Greggs and Next are saying, and what to expect from retailers in 2025. [00:23:09]

Charlene considers the reasons why the Government has announced a review of the Lifetime ISA and what might happen next. [00:35:29]

Finally, Danni Hewson chats to Dominic Weller, fund manager of the Octopus UK Future Generations Fund, about whether investing for change can also come with chunky returns now that interest rates are slowly on their way down. [00:40:17]