Markets have rebounded sharply after news of a ceasefire involving Iran – but what does it really mean for investors and household finances?

In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets, Dan Coatsworth is joined by Danni Hewson to break down the market reaction, what’s driving sentiment, and the key things investors still need to keep in mind.

We also cover:

Major company news, including an update to car finance compensation claims and disappointing updates from Shell Eye‑opening statistics from the electric vehicle market A proposed takeover of Universal Music – and why it’s more important than it first appears Changes to student loans and what they mean for borrowers Fresh developments in the housing market New rules making it easier to cancel subscriptions The pros and cons of investing at the start versus the end of the tax year Plus, we continue our series highlighting lesser‑known UK companies making a global impact, with Tom Sieber speaking to Craneware CEO Keith Neilson about healthcare innovation in the US.

00:00 – Intro 01:47 – Markets rebound after Iran ceasefire: what happened and why

16:14 – Shell shares fall: what went wrong?

20:00 – Why the car finance scandal has led to one lender being put up for sale

23:39 – Electric vehicle market: the key stats investors should know

26:09 – Universal Music takeover: why this deal matters

30:15 – Student loans update: what borrowers need to know

33:36 – Why the UK housing market is in a slumber

35:28 – Good news for cancelling subscriptions 38:33 – Investing at the start vs end of the tax year

41:05 – UK success story: we talk to the boss of Craneware

In this special edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford dive into the big movers and big debates across the investment trust world.

They consider why Temple Bar continues to outperform, what’s holding back JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, and the latest activist pressure from Saba targeting Edinburgh Worldwide and Impax.

Hannah speaks to Job Curtis from City of London Investment Trust about how today’s geopolitical tensions echo past market cycles. Dan and Hannah also explore why renewable energy trusts are still on the scrap heap.

We also hear from Eve Maddock‑Jones on the good, bad and ugly of trusts courting retail investors through modern media — with mixed results. Finally, Tom Sieber talks to two managers spotting tentative recovery signs in the smaller companies sector, with insights from Nish Patel (Global Smaller Companies) and George Cooke (Montanaro European Smaller Companies).

02:03 –Dan on why Temple Bar is still beating the market 05:20 – JPMorgan Global Growth & Income lags behind

09:20 – Activist investor Saba launches new investment fund and the latest on its efforts to shake up Edinburgh Worldwide & Impax Environmental Markets 15:13– Hannah talks to Job Curtis: Market lessons from past geopolitical shocks 30:51 – Eve Maddock‑Jones on how trusts are (mis)using modern media 48:34 – Small-cap recovery? Tom Sieber speaks to Nish Patel 57:39 – European opportunities with George Cooke

Charlene Young and Danni Hewson look at how UK and global markets have moved over the past month, and as we mark the first anniversary of Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariff announcement.

In company news, Danni will cover Unilever spinning off its food business - home to Hellmann's mayonnaise, Knorr and Marmite – in a merger with spice giant McCormick. A proposed Hovis and Associated British Foods merger hits a snag and it's a landmark birthday as Apple turns 50.

Dan Coatsworth speaks to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst George Ferguson about SpaceX and the prospect of it joining the stock market in the first of our two interviews.

Awful April is upon us – Charlene looks at rises to council tax and other bills and how the government could raise money and scrap the £100,000 childcare tax trap.

We also break down what the FCA's car finance redress scheme means for lenders and investors. We finish with our second interview of the week as we hear from YouTube channel star Ruth David of ScrimpAndSpend on the rise of the finfluencer.

[00:09] Intro and topic rundown

[01:09] UK & global market update

[06:13] Liberation Day anniversary

[08:41] Company news - Unilever foods/McCormick deal; Hovis/ABF update

[16:10] SpaceX INTERVIEW - George Ferguson, Bloomberg Intelligence

[32:41] Awful April bill hikes

[35:21] How the government could solve the £100,000 childcare tax trap

[39:11] Car finance update

[45:28] Finfluencer INTERVIEW - Ruth David, ScrimpAndSpend

[01:00:19] Outro