In this episode, Are We Losing Control of AI Agents? I Ask Gemini

Also we unpack why bond yields demanded everyone’s attention through September and what the latest movements across major indices and commodities mean for small-cap investors heading into the final quarter.

We break down the standout performers and hardest-hit fallers on the Sharepickers platform this week, dive deep into Greggs plc (#GRG) following their resilient Q3 trading update, and wrap up with a thought-provoking AI thought experiment: How can humans maintain control over AI agents once they surpass human intelligence?

What’s in This Episode:

• Macro Round-Up: Why September’s bond yield dynamics continue to drive equity valuations, plus a look at indices and commodities.

• Top Movers on Sharepickers.com:
  
  

  • Risers: Likewise Group (#LIKE), EnSilica (#ENSI), Filtronic (#FTC), Synectics (#SNX)

  • Fallers: eEnergy Group (#EAAS), XP Factory (#XPF), Seeing Machines (#SEE)

• Stock in Focus — Greggs (#GRG): An in-depth review of Q3 results, 7.7% sales growth, 57 net new openings, supply chain investments, and upgraded guidance.

• Gemini Chat: AI governance, alignment, and keeping superintelligent autonomous agents accountable.

About The SharePickers Investment Club

The SharePickers Investment Club employs a systematic method to uncover small, profitable companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Each company undergoes comprehensive analysis against 15 crucial financial metrics to bypass market noise and spotlight fundamentally sound growth.

Visit: www.sharepickers.com

Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast or anything associated with Sharepickers.com should be regarded as investment advice. It is for information purposes only. Please do your own research and/or seek the advice of an FCA-regulated financial advisor.

In this episode of Macro, Micro and Small Cap News, we explore why there may only be two ways the current AI boom plays out—and why a 2000-style dot-com market crash might actually be the less damaging outcome.

We examine the growing systemic vulnerabilities surrounding autonomous AI agents, energy security, and grid resilience, alongside three urgent red flags signaling that the AI infrastructure bubble may be cracking under debt and speculative pressure:

• CoreWeave’s Bond Slump: A $40B market cap sitting on $30B of net debt, secondary bond yields spiking toward 15%, and the systemic risk of financing short-lived GPU hardware with high-yield debt.

• Pulled AI IPOs: Weak investor demand forcing listings like Firmus ($5B), AirTrunk REIT, and SB Energy to be shelved or paused.

• Asian Semiconductor Plunge: The KOSPI sliding 8% and triggering circuit breakers as SK Hynix and Samsung slump on fears of hyperscaler capex cuts.

• Why the Budget Bank Tax Favors Funding Circle (#FCH): How proposed tax hikes on high-street clearing banks force legacy lenders to retreat from SME financing, driving prime small business borrowers toward capital-light, levy-exempt platforms.

• Weekly Market Movers: A review of this week’s top risers and fallers across the London market, including Corero Network Security (#CNS), LBG Media (#LBG), TPXimpact (#TPX), ActiveOps (#AOM), Filtronic (#FTC), and EnSilica (#ENSI).

Plus our regular check on key macro indices, bonds, and commodities.

Disclaimer: Information purposes only, not investment advice. Please conduct your own research or consult an FCA-regulated financial adviser.

TO JOIN THE SHAREPICKERS INVESTMENT CLUB VISIT: www.sharepickers.com

In this episode of Macro, Micro and Small Cap News, Sharepickers breaks down a turbulent week across UK politics, global macroeconomics, and equity markets. The show opens with an in-depth critique of the Labour government’s fiscal policy, arguing that swelling welfare expenditure, high debt-servicing costs, and tax hikes on employers and wealth creators are steering the UK economy toward stagflation.

From there, the episode covers major global headlines: the tech sector's heavy sell-off driven by escalating AI capital expenditures and infrastructure bottlenecks, rising shop price inflation, emergency stockpile buying, slowing UK house price growth, and mass workforce buyouts across tech and finance. The show also highlights a historic $6.3bn cryptocurrency exploit, oil surging to $117/barrel, this week's key small-cap risers and fallers on the London Stock Exchange, stocks to watch, and a bizarre public sector fraud case.

Episode Summary

1. Topic of the Day: UK Economic Policy & Stagflation Concerns

• Fiscal Critique: Analysis of the recent budget, arguing that most consequential measures have been kicked down the road to 2030 while UK sovereign debt sits at an all-time high of £3 trillion.

• Debt Servicing Costs: Debt interest is now the third most expensive government outlay—surpassing both Education and Defence—pushing UK bond yields higher and directly increasing the cost of mortgages, business loans, and consumer credit.

• Welfare vs. Growth: The podcast warns of a vicious cycle where ballooning welfare obligations (projected to hit ~£400bn by 2030) are being financed through employer National Insurance hikes and fiscal drag, stifling productive enterprise and depressing UK household income growth.

2. Macroeconomic Highlights

• Big Tech & AI Capex Concerns: Tech equities faced heavy selling—led by sharp pullbacks in Intel and Alphabet—amid market anxiety over massive AI infrastructure investments, negative free cash flow, upcoming hardware depreciation, and long-term grid-connection constraints.

• Inflation & Retail: Shop price inflation reached 2.1% (food inflation at 2.9%), driven by higher input and energy costs. Meanwhile, consumer demand for emergency goods (tinned food, radios, torches) surged following government advice to prepare for civil or cyber disruptions.

• Housing & Distress: UK house price growth decelerated to 0.5% annualized as 5-year fixed mortgage rates crossed 6%. Concurrently, corporate distress reached record levels, with over 738,000 UK businesses reporting significant financial strain.

• Workforce Reductions: Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to roughly 60,000 workers (~27% of its workforce) as AI-driven automation and cost-cutting continue across major tech and banking conglomerates.

• Crypto Security: Binance suffered an industry-record $6.3bn hack linked to North Korean cyber actors.

3. Small-Cap Risers, Fallers & Stocks to Watch

• Top Fallers: Vanquis Banking Group (VANQ) lowered mid-term guidance following quarterly losses and credit card impairment charges; S4 Capital (SFOR) reduced net revenue expectations; #BRCK Group (#BRCK) was noted among decliners.

• Top Risers: TinyBuild (#TBLD), IXICO (#IXI), and eEnergy Group (#EAAS).

• 
  

Keep an Eye on Bond Yields plus 3 Stocks Worth Watching

Macro, Micro and Small Cap News | Saturday 26th September 2026

In this week's episode, we break down why rising benchmark US government bond yields are ringing alarm bells across financial markets. As bond prices fall and yields march higher, governments face escalating debt service costs—setting off a potential debt spiral that directly impacts equity valuations. We explore what happens when the Equity Risk Premium approaches zero, why pension funds might rotate out of risk assets into guaranteed yields, and how long current AI-driven earnings growth can absorb the pressure.

We also share quick boots-on-the-ground observations from recent travels across Chicago, Nashville, and Miami, followed by in-depth fundamental looks at three companies:

• Funding Circle (#FCH): Why the market overreacted to CEO Lisa Jacobs’ planned handover for September 2027, the strength of their interim results, and the growth trajectory of FlexiPay and business credit cards.

• Everplay (#EVPL): Exceptional H2 momentum driven by standout sales from Wardogs (3.24M units) and Hell Let Loose: Vietnam (~400k), plus the upcoming pipeline.

• Fonix (#FNX): A pristine balance sheet, a near-6% dividend yield, and international expansion plays set to scale revenue over the next 3–5 years.

Plus, our regular rundown of indices, commodities, and the top three risers and fallers of the week.

About The SharePickers Investment Club:

The SharePickers Investment Club employs a unique, systematic method to uncover small, profitable companies on the London Stock Exchange. Each potential investment undergoes comprehensive analysis evaluated against 15 crucial financial metrics, bypassing hype and focusing strictly on fundamentals.

Learn more at www.sharepickers.com.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast or associated with Sharepickers.com should be regarded as investment advice. It is for informational purposes only. Always do your own research and/or consult an FCA-regulated financial advisor.

In this episode, we deep-dive into a hidden gem in the UK tech sector: Intercede Group (#IGP). While the broader software space faces budget cuts, high-assurance digital identity is seeing massive, non-discretionary spending. I break down 6 reasons why Intercede is a screaming buy—ranging from its sovereign-grade client base and first-mover quantum advantage to its double-digit compounding projections trading at dirt-cheap forward multiples.

We also cover key updates on Funding Circle (#FCH) and how El Niño is shifting macro landscapes for soft commodities, alongside our weekly roundup of the markets and microcap winners and losers.

Markets Covered:

• Indices

• Best and Worst Small & Microcap Performers This Week

• Ramsdens (#RFX)

• Funding Circle (#FCH)

• Intercede (#IGP)

• WisdomTree Cocoa (#COCO)

• WisdomTree Coffee (#COFF)

• WisdomTree Sugar (#SUGA)

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Get full access to the SharePickers Investment Club for just £149 (normally £249) using code: POD40 at checkout.

📚 MY BOOK

How to Become a MicroCap Millionaire - A 3 Step Strategy for Stock Market Success is on sale now: 👉 Get the Book Here

Review the Book & Lock In £149 Membership Forever: If you buy the book, leave a 5-star rating, and write a positive review, you can claim your yearly membership to the SharePickers Investment Club for just £149!

That's just £2.88 a week—which is less than:

• Half a pint of beer

• A bag of chips, a battered jumbo sausage, or a jumbo saveloy from the chippy

• Half the monthly average spend on chocolate

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One feeds your belly and destroys your health; the other feeds your mind and improves your wealth.

🏆 About The SharePickers Investment Club & MicroCap League

We employ a unique, systematic method to uncover small, profitable companies on the London Stock Exchange. Each potential investment undergoes a comprehensive analysis against 15 crucial financial metrics to bypass the hype and focus strictly on quantitative facts.

The highest-scoring companies are added to the MicroCap League—the UK's first league table where hundreds of small businesses are scored on Growth, Value, Health, Efficiency, Momentum, and Potential to pinpoint the best risk/reward profiles.

Support the Show: If you regularly listen and value this content, please consider paying it forward by leaving us a 5-star rating and a quick review on your podcast app. Thank you for listening!

In this episode of Macro, Micro and Small Cap News, we take a deep dive into UK market liquidity and outline a macro plan to fix wealth inequality while jump-starting domestic enterprise. Inspired by U.S. capital participation and newborn account models, we present a 10-point proposal to transform the Junior ISA (JISA) into a public-private wealth engine. Plus, an extended summer discount and three UK stocks worth adding to your watchlist.

Key Topics Covered:

• Summer Discount Extension: Explaining the difference between meteorological and astronomical summer, plus an extension on the POD40 discount code (40% off Sharepickers Investment Club through August 31st).

• A Macro Story — Rebooting the UK Market:
  
  

  • US vs. UK Market Culture: Why 60% of Americans invest in stocks versus only 35% in the UK, and how U.S. capital powerhouse status creates a virtuous liquidity cycle.

  • The Upgraded JISA Proposal: Seeding every UK newborn with £1,000, allowing tax-deductible matching for donors/corporations, and requiring a mandatory 50% allocation to low-cost UK equity index funds.

  • The Growth Math: How £1,000 at 7.5% annual return grows to £3,676 by age 18, or £14,800+ with modest £25/month family top-ups.

  • 10 Economic Benefits: Igniting practical childhood financial literacy, re-energising domestic listed companies, banishing active fund fees, and creating a share-owning democracy.

  • Parliamentary Petition: Feedback call on bringing this proposal to Parliament.

• 3 Stocks Worth Researching:
  
  
  • The Property Franchise Group (#TPFG)
• 
  
  • S4 Capital (#SFOR)
• 
  
  • WINVIA (#WVIA)
    
    

Rght now you can get 40% off the Sharepickers Investment club with our SPECIAL SUMMER 40% OFF CODE.

This code expires on 31st August 2026

To take advantage visit Sharepickers dot com, scroll down and use this code where you see the label, “Have a Coupon”

Type in

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You will get 40% off £249, which means you get membership for £149 and this code is valid for as

In this episode of Macro, Micro and Small Cap News, we dissect Nvidia's latest earnings and break down why the massive AI capex cycle could lead to sharp earnings revisions by 2027–2028.

PLUS Turning to UK equities, we evaluate two growth-focused small caps: AdvancedAdvT (ADVT), led by Vin Murria OBE with a substantial cash pile and a 22.33% combined stake in M&C Saatchi; and Brave Bison (BBSN), detailing their ongoing bid for System1 (SYS1), strong organic momentum, and a 104% year-over-year revenue increase in recent interim results.

Special Summer Offer: Get 40% off your annual Sharepickers Investment Club membership (down from £249 to £149). Use coupon code POD40 at checkout on Sharepickers.com before midnight on August 31, 2026.

Key Topics Covered:

• Macro Deep Dive: The 5 Catalysts Threatening the AI Boom

• The 10:1 revenue gap between capex buildout and real software spend.

• Circular financing, private credit, and chip collateral risks.

• CommoditiSation of models ("cheap intelligence") and electric grid bottlenecks.

• The multi-year depreciation lag: Why hyperscalers (Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft) are turning into capital-intensive infrastructure utilities.

• Macro & Indices:

• UK Small-Cap Stock Research:
  
  

  • AdvancedAdvT (LON: #ADVT): Serial entrepreneur Vin Murria OBE’s proven buy-and-build playbook, £96m+ net cash, and the strategic cross-holding in M&C Saatchi (LON: #SAA).

  • Brave Bison (AIM: #BBSN): The high-stakes 28% cornerstone stake in System1 (AIM: #SYS1), disciplined M&A execution, and interim financial highlights (+104% revenue growth).

***** About The SharePickers Investment Club *****

The SharePickers Investment Club employs a unique, systematic method to uncover small, profitable companies on the London Stock Exchange.

Each potential investment undergoes comprehensive analysis and is evaluated against 15 crucial financial metrics.

This fact-based, quantitative approach allows us to pinpoint high-potential growth businesses and deliver consistent results, bypassing the hype and focusing on the numbers.

Please visit www.sharepickers.com

NOTHING IN THIS VIDEO OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH SHAREPICKERS.COM SHOULD BE REGARDED AS INVESTMENT ADVICE. IT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND / OR SEEK THE ADVICE OF AN FCA REGULATED FINANCIAL ADVISOR.