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► Episode Notes:

What does a soup made of Irn Bru and gammon taste like? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

It’s been a very mixed week in the stock market this week, with the FTSE 100 up but the S&P 500 down. But has which Steve has managed to stay ahead of both of them?

The UK government has announced an investigation into the LISA to kick off 2025. But it’s not yet clear what’s going to change – the withdrawal costs, the house limit, or everything.

Steve W has a LISA, Steve D does not. But what’s the point of them when there are SIPP opportunities for UK investors with cash to invest for the long term? 

Greggs has reported earnings this week and Steve W is confused. He didn’t see this as a strong quarter with like-for-like sales weak from a company that’s supposed to be resilient. 

Everyone else seems to think otherwise, though. But they don’t seem to be willing to buy the stock at the moment – so maybe it wasn’t such a good report after all. 

Christmas is now in the books and it’s time to look at who did what on the retail front. Steve D’s been looking at Tesco, Aldi, and Asda to see where people have been shopping. 

The truth is, it’s not really Asda. But Tesco looks like it continues to go from strength to strength, defending its market position well against the discounters. 

B&M is another stock that fell sharply this week. But with a £151m special dividend and revenues continuing to grow, does a declining share price make any sense at all?

Steve W thinks it does. A dividend cut and declining store performance doesn’t paint a good picture, but the stock might be worth a look after losing another 11% of its market value.

Who wants to buy bonds? Quite a few people, actually, but not enough to stop UK borrowing costs hitting their highest levels in over two decades. 

Investors might be tempted to take a look at a very low-risk investment. But Steve and Steve are more interested in the implications for UK stocks…

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

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► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

6:50 LISA BEING REVIEWED

13:41 GREGGS

20:07 WHO WON XMAS

33:27 B&M EUROPEAN VALUE

44:52 GILTS - THE ACTUAL STORY

► 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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► Disclaimer:

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.