ShareSoc director Mark Bentley provides his opinion on the upcoming Nationwide AGM.

The plaudits continue to come for M&S and its Chair, Archie Norman, for finally getting their AGM right - as a hybrid event - where both in person and virtual attendees were welcome. It may not be perfect, but at least it allows the individual shareholder, wherever they may be, to ask questions of execs in a public forum. 

It should be noted that M&S only moved from last year's digital only format to hybrid because of the intervention from ShareSoc and the pressure that we applied. 

Vietnam Entrprise Investments and Dragon Capital literally pushed the boat out with an innovative restaurant based AGM, attracting new attendees and even Jeff Prestridge of the Mail on Sunday.  

The Patisserie Valerie auditor Grant Thornton tries to exit itself to a private equity sale. What would happen to audit quality? Would it need even greater supervision? Questions being asked.

A quick win for a new Labour Government? Simple and quick fix for Investment Trust cost misreporting.  The election killed off original attempts and the previous government and FCA dilly dallied. Watch Investment Trusts rerate if this is sorted out. 

Merryn Somerset-Webb asks whether markets do better/worse under Labour governments. 

As investors and savers seek to shield their wealth from a new government, will VCT and EIS funds get a fillip?

A National Wealth Fund, an industrial strategy, championing exports... all sounds sensible. The devil will be in the detail.  

City minister appointed by the new Labour government.  There is an awful lot for them to get up to speed on, and that’s before they start introducing their own initiatives. ShareSoc can now restart lobbying on multiple fronts, including Shareholder Rights. 

Madhvani International, a privately-owned Indian company, plans to enter the mini nuclear reactor market in the UK using technology developed by GE-Hitachi. They aim to showcase their technology globally and are considering using GE-Hitachi's BWRX-300 SMRs. This could potentially impact Rolls-Royce, which has been working on an alternative technology. 

Hipgnosis shareholders approve Blackstone takeover and delisting moves forward. Some might consider this a lucky escape for investors, who were at risk of a real mauling, after the dubious actions of previous management and the founder (now all gone). 

This letter to the FT argues that Investment Trusts have had their day. Not everyone agrees (FT subscribers only). 

Free to read on the FT, Moira O'Neil highlights that there is practically no good guidance on how to invest for retirement and how to utilise your pension savings. 

The FT reports on ClearGlass analysis showing the UK Pension funds are paying £1.4bn more than needed to fund managers.  In some cases, 14 times more than others for the same funds. 

SSAS pensions are rarely mentioned these days as an alternative to SIPPs. This article explains and explores who they might suit and the pros and cons of a more complex option that is certainly not suitable for everyone, but has major benefits for those who are. 

Can you pass a financial literacy test? Which half are you, and your nearest and dearest, in?

Is AI the future of investing advice? The FT reports on one investor’s use of simple AI tools to do his due diligence. 

Looks like the invading activist funds are being more successfully repelled these days by incumbent boards.  

Are tech stocks being kept afloat by a wall of money sourced from passive investors? Are bubbles such as the current AI one due to this dumb money pouring in? These and other questions are posed. (FT subscription required) 

An interesting comparison of Vanguard vs. Hargreaves Lansdown. Even though each is best suited for different types of investors it's worth a read. 

It's not all about inflation, warns Jerome Powell, the Fed Chair, re US economy and Interest Rates. 

Are US Tech Stock multiples sustainable? US companies will have to deliver the biggest rise in profits in more than two years to avoid disappointing Wall Street analysts. (FT subscription required) 

Pricing Power is slipping from US Consumer Goods companies, so says the FT. Not surprising given the successive increase and shrinkflation. At some point consumers always seek better value alternatives - Pricing Power is not unlimited/infinite - never was and never will be. (FT subscription required) 

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