What do hedge fund managers think is going to cause a stock market crash? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

All change this week – Steve W creeps back towards being average as Steve D’s portfolio has an off week. But why’s it a bad week to be Welsh?

The stock market is definitely going to crash, the only questions are when and why? One candidate is a bursting AI bubble, which is what Steve D’s been looking at.

Steve W’s been looking at the latest data from Bank of America for ideas. Hedge funds are leaning towards inflation as the concern, but this was before Friday’s tariff news…

REITs are often popular with dividend investors and Steve W’s been looking at AEW – one we haven’t talked about before. It’s got a 7.5% yield, but that’s not what he’s interested in.

Unlike most REITs, the firm has a growth strategy based on short-term lease renewals. It’s been working, too, so is this one for the passive income buy list?

Steve D’s been looking at Grainger, the UK’s largest owner of private rental houses. For anyone that’s ever wanted to make money in buy-to-lets, this could be worth a look.

The firm is transitioning towards becoming a REIT. And the longer it takes consecutive governments to increase housebuilding, the more rental demand there should be.

FTSE 250 pub chain JD Wetherspoon has released its full-year results and the stock is down. But Steve W doesn’t think they were at all bad with growing sales and steady margins.

Steve D thinks some cracks are starting to show, though. So should the company really be paying a dividend and buying back shares while increasing its net debt during the year?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

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► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

8:50 CRASH INCOMING

29:11 AEW UK REIT

44:17 GRAINGER

1:00:29 SPOONS

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

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This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

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