The Just Williams podcast is back, with regulars Duncan Williams and John Newsome in front of the mics and ready to do business.

The sun may be shining, and there may even be talk of hosepipe bans in Harrogate, but the economic news is a little more gloomy and the skies are looking ominous.

It's a bit of a ping-pong episode as we bounce between the UK and the US on all matters of inflation, investment and energy security. There is quite a bit of head scratching, a dollop of bemusement and rare bit of praise for Rachel.

The Williams Investment team of Duncan Williams and John Newsome are back and fired up to bring you their thoughts.

Even though today's episode was recorded before this weeks Spending Review, there is still much to ponder including the impact that the crippling costs of energy is having on the UK economy, the moves the Trump administration are making to try and influence monetary policy in the US and the consequences of surprise drop in inflation across the Eurozone.

And on the subject of energy, they take time to delve into what is going on with coal-fired power station in India.

The Just Williams podcast is back, with regulars Duncan Williams and John Newsome in front of the mics and ready to do business.

The UK economic situation is the first thing up for discussion with the recent drop in interest rates (and further cuts expected) bumping up against rising inflation, and resulting in some scratching of foreheads.

America is up next with the latest economic numbers suggesting that whatever the Trump Administration is up to, it isn't necessarily delivering anything of note. A quick trip over to Japan for some interesting news about rising inflation, and a couple of quick stock updates, before returning to find out what Rachel Reeves is up to with Pension Funds.

Oh, and they finish with a quiz.

There are quite a few economic updates to get through in this episode of the Just Williams podcast, as hosts Duncan Williams and John Newsome ponder a change to UK interest rates as well as a Trade Deal with the U.S

And, as will come to no surprise to regular listeners, they are forthright with both analysis and opinion. In other news there is an update on a u-turn by the Belgian Government around nucleur power, and some chat around the market position of Google.

Oh, and Duncan puts John through his paces with an end-of-episode quiz!

Welcome to the new episode of the Just Williams podcast, with Duncan Williams back in the 'asking-questions' chair and John Newsome in the 'one marked 'insightful perspective and pithy comment'.

The first part of this weeks pod is taken up with discussion of the Tariff plan dreamed up by the Trump administration, and whether it really stands together as a well-considered strategy. There is a little bit of chat about the economic landscape in the UK, and the question around future interest rate cuts and some reflection on the recent spate of elections.

Next they turn their attention to activity around Ethical funds, and the metrics that are employed to track share valuation.

You may recall that the last episode of Just Williams was recorded just before the Trump Administration made its major Tariff announcement on April 2nd, and that we promised to look at that in due course.

Well that course is well and truly due, as Val Wade and John Newsome hit the ground running with a deep-dive on the implications of what has been going on. And what it might mean for a whole heap of interested parties, such as Elon Musk, the Chinese Government and not least the American consumer.

In related news they look at the impact it is having on the market for Gold, how it can mean different things for the Bond Market and the Mortgage market at the same time, and whether there is any truth in the rumours of insider-trading.

If you familiar with the old adage that a 'change is as good as a rest' then you are going to be both informed and refreshed after listening to the new episode of the Just Williams podcast.

Val Wade has wrestled the microphone from Duncan Willams, and along with John Newsome she covers off all the important updates since last time. There is a lot of discussion around the Spring Statement from Rachel Reeves, the issue with the cost of servicing UK debt and why it might get trickier for Labour to find money in the future.

There is also a discussion around U.S tariffs on the automotive industry, and something to do with Scotland and pine trees...but you will have to wait for the details on that.

And just as an FYI, this episode was recorded before the major announcement on U.S tariff imposition that took place the 2nd April. More on that next time.

What better way to welcome in the Spring, the time of growth and renewal, than a couple of grumpy old investment managers bemoaning the lack of either.

Of course it's never quite that cut and dried, as we shall hear when Duncan Williams and John Newsome get into the weeds of the situation. First up is the UK Economy, and the continuing economic indicators that are offering anything but good news for Rachel Reeves. Our dynamic duo speculate at to whether a delegation of Regulators to No.11 is the answer to her growth woes.

Then it's a quick hop across the pond to talk tariffs, tech stocks and whether Mr Musk is counting the cost of his association with the Trump administration.

And we round out this episode with an update on the price of Gold, the uncertainty around buying a used electric vehicle and what you need to do before the end of the tax year.