We're a UK based podcast discussing all types of investing. Light-hearted and info-packed, we'll try our best to bring you great coverage of the markets, stocks, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible and (we hope) entertaining!
How much cheese can you buy in a Makro? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Both Steves are finally finding out what winning feels like in the stock market this week. Don’t worry, it won’t last. The FTSE 100 hasn’t had a great week, but the S&P 500 has. No match for Steve or Steve this time, but which stock is up 23% in the last seven days? It’s time to reveal our changes for the Britbox and the Eurobox in Q4. It’s a low profile for Steve D on the Britbox and Steve W on the Eurobox, but there’s plenty to focus on. Steve D’s Eurobox name is a really interesting one that we haven’t…
Whose health is suffering along with their wealth? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s the end of Q3, so that means two things. One is Steve W’s joke about waking up the guy from Green Day and the other is a portfolio check-in. Regular viewers will know about the common pattern for both Steves – two strong months followed by one bad one. But what’s the damage and how bad is it? A lot of good things have happened in Steve W’s portfolio during Q3. But a 30% fall in the Rentokil share price has managed to undo pretty much all of that. The long-awaited recovery still seems to be some…
Who makes the best mayonnaise? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve D is back, but probably wishing he wasn’t. It’s a story of the bad and the worse in the stock market this week as the S&P 500 marches on… Shares in Vistry are down – again – after the results of the new CEO’s investigation. There’s a £400m writedown and an important change of direction for the business. Both Steves have owned this, but it’s been one set of bad news after another. And Steve D has made a big decision… Exor is a stock that has confounded value investors for some time. It trades at a huge discount to…
**Check Out ISA Investor on YouTube** https://www.youtube.com/@ISAInvestorUK Where is Steve D? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! This week, Steve W is sitting down with ISA Investor UK. A long-time listener with an overlapping past, this mysterious investor has a unique approach to the markets. A portfolio worth over £1,000,000 would be enough for most people. But ISA Investor UK just keeps on going – at least, for the time being. What motivates someone to keep pushing forward after so much success? And how might his approach to risk change in the future? ISA Investor’s portfolio is…
What’s got more flavour than an Oxo cube? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been a dreadful week for both Steves in the stock market. Steve W’s losses are three times greater than the FTSE 100 or the S&P 500. And Steve D’s are worse! Nvidia shares have done pretty well this year, but not as well as over 200 other S&P 500 stocks. That’s despite the latest results continuing to be nothing short of stellar. Steve W thinks it’s time to start asking a different question. What’s the company’s strategy for after the data centre buildout and can it cope with the competition? Steve D has…
When did Steve D nearly buy a sports team? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve W’s back from holiday, but he doesn’t have anything good to report from this week in the stock market. Nor does Steve D for that matter… In general, people who buy sports franchises aren’t doing so for investment reasons. But Steve W’s been looking at one on the stock market that might just be interesting. Manchester United has a brand with a loyal fanbase and the company outperforms its rivals even when the team is dreadful. Could that be worth a look for investors? If James Fox is right that power –…
**Check Out James On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trade_pass/** What’s harder: building a data centre in space or a house in the UK? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! This week, we have something a bit different. With Steve W on holiday, it’s the return of the UK’s Number 1 independent stock picker – Dr. James Fox! It’s been quite the year in the stock market. And James is here to break it all down for us – as well as telling us where he thinks we’re heading from here. Unlike a lot of investors, James doesn’t mind timing the stock market. He’s focused on buying low and…
What’s the most crowded trade right now? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Another middling performance from Steve and Steve this week. But with both the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 down, that’s not really anything to shout about… Steve W’s been looking at the state of the stock market right now. The Bank of America Fund Manager Survey for August is throwing up some interesting data. Investors are still concerned about AI and the semiconductor trade. But they’re getting more bullish, so is this the time to buy, sell, or hold? Steve D has been watching Klarna since the stock went public.…
What day of the week does Monda.com report earnings on? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve D has absolutely run away with it in the stock market this week. With Steve W, it depends on how you measure things… Adyen shares have been driving Steve D’s portfolio higher. But there are quite a few things to pay attention to. A move to buying over building and a push to buy computing power at the high end of the cycle look out of character. The stock, however, is still well below its 5-year high… Berkshire Hathaway without Warren Buffett in charge doesn’t feel quite the same. But is…
What’s Michael Burry buying? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s a close-run thing in the stock market this week. At least, it is between Steve and Steve – the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 are nowhere to be seen really… MercadoLibre shares fell after strong revenue growth – and lower profits. The company is investing to strengthen its position, but is this a good thing? Amazon, Shoppee, and Temu are all coming for the Brazilian e-commerce market. Steve D, however, isn’t really worried… It’s been quite the year for SAAS stocks and Steve D has the good, the bad, and the ugly. The…
What’s Steve D doing with his tights? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! The Steves are back to winning ways in the stock market. But Steve W’s had a disaster on one name in particular… The FTSE 100 made new highs, but Rentokil shares fell 20% in a day. Steve W owns this one and he’s been having a closer look. Results for Q2 don’t look too bad. But lower organic growth, operating margins, and declining market share isn’t a good combination. Greggs shares might be at the start of a comeback. The stock surged after results this week, despite some good – but not great – results. Is it a…
Where are the 2027 Test Matches taking place? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! A truly dreadful week for both Steves in the stock market. The FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 are both up and they’re down over 3% – each. That’s not great, but what’s been doing the damage? And in a week where most of their portfolios are red, how have they managed to focus almost entirely on shares that are up?! Judges Scientific was one of our top UK growth stocks for 2026. But that hasn’t really come to fruition and the latest update from the company isn’t particularly strong. The macroeconomic pressure is…
What are bumpers for? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! The Steves are flying again this week, with both well ahead of the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500. But which surprise name has been driving both portfolios higher? Since we identified it as a top UK stock for 2026, Vistry has been the FTSE 250’s worst performers this year. And it’s down again after announcing H1 profits below expectations. Steve W, however, thinks there are encouraging signs for H2. So could the UK’s most heavily-shorted stock be set for a comeback in the second half of the year? It’s earnings season in the S&P 500…
Who’s not impressed by the seaside? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! This week, Steve W’s had one to forget (just). But Steve D’s managed to do a better job – enough to keep the show’s dignity intact. It’s time to finalise the changes in the Britbox. And there’s a bit of a change from what we talked about last week. Our viewers have suggested RELX and Sage, but Steve D’s got an eye on the London Stock Exchange Group. The big question, though, is what’s gone wrong with Steve W’s choice?? In the Eurobox, Steve W’s got a new name to look at. It’s a growth stock with a familiar business…
Who’s turning 2026 around? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Q2 is in the books, so it’s time to check in on what the Steves have been buying and selling. And there are some surprising updates from both of them… Steve D’s been making some moves in his portfolio in Q2. And the big story is a major new buy making its way to position number three in his portfolio. It’s a big bet on a big company – a name that everyone seems to be talking about at the moment. But why has Steve chosen to make his move now? Steve W’s made one big move in Q2 – and he’s been talking about it for months. It’s…
What unusual things have been going on with Vistry shares? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! They say a broken clock is right twice a day. Steve W’s now been right twice in a month, as the crowded semiconductor trade started to unwind this week. Micron has been one of the big beneficiaries of the run on data centre stocks. And its latest results are nothing short of incredible. The stock market feels like Warren Buffett’s story of Cinderella. But as investors dance in the room where the clocks have no hands, Steve W doesn’t think it’s midnight yet. Steve D’s checking in on Avingtrans…
What does Steve D use to edit our show? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been an odd week in the stock market. But Steve D extends his winning streak to two in a row as Steve W drops back into the middle of the pack. This week saw Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as Fed Chair. And there weren’t any major surprises… or were there? The new chief is surprisingly quiet – to the point of not issuing a dot for the plot – on cutting interest rates. But Steve D’s wondering whether he could be playing the long game. Michael Burry’s been buying shares in Veeva Systems and it’s made its way…
Why does the sound of an ocarina make grown men cry? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s a win for both Steves in the stock market this week. A proper one too – they’re both up while the rest of the market is down! Steve D’s looking at Nintendo again. It’s a business where an installed console base opens up high-margin software revenues. Sometimes, however, a game comes along that people just buy the hardware specifically for. And Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those… Meta has been a complicated AI stock. It’s been spending like Amazon and Alphabet, but without the customer base…
Who can’t keep it in his pants? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! We recorded this show on Thursday before the stock market dropped on Friday. Pity, that might have helped Steve W’s performance this week… It’s been a while since we looked at the London Stock Exchange Group. But Steve D thinks it’s time to check back in. The stock has been something of an AI casualty as the market doubts its data moat. The latest results, however, seem to tell a different story… Since Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO, Berkshire Hathaway has been a busy place. Greg Abel’s taken a $10bn stake in…
Who gets away with calling a liquid ‘gas’? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Both Steves are in the middle of the indices – as usual – this week. But the software rally is finally creating notable returns from one name. Warren Buffett is barely out of the CEO seat and Berkshire Hathaway is buying an airline. Do these people never learn? Steve W’s been taking a look. And there’s something about this time compared to the pre-pandemic buys that’s catching his eye. We don’t talk about Costco stock enough on this show. So Steve D’s setting out to put that right this week with a look at…
Who’s firing the money printer? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been an ok week for the Steves in the stock market this week. And some unfamiliar names are starting to show signs of life... The big story this week is SpaceX’s upcoming IPO. Steve D’s been looking at the S1 and it’s fair to say he isn’t hugely impressed. It’s fair to say that it’s hard to make the numbers add up without some very bullish assumptions. But is looking at numbers the right way to think about this one? FTSE 100 growth machine Diploma keeps going from strength to strength. 15% organic growth is up…
Who queues for a vegan sausage roll? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! This could be the worst week in the stock market for both Steves. But they’re here to talk about it nonetheless. Are things finally looking up for Greggs shares? It looks like it – improving like-for-like sales and a rising share price say so. Steve W’s been taking a look. But there’s something else in the firm’s cash flow statement that’s catching his attention. Steve D is on the case with Klarna and looking at its operating leverage. There’s plenty of it and the company’s even profitable… sort of. The stock…
Who has a cold, cold heart? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! The Steves are up the middle this week. But which FTSE 100 laggard is starting to show some life? We’ve had another viewer request - this time to take a look at S&P 500 insurance brokers. Steve W is on the case. Brown & Brown has been at the centre of a really interesting staff-poaching drama. But what does it mean for the stock? Steve D’s been looking at Transmedics – again. But unlike Oppenheimer, he’s still ok with defending the stock despite a big decline. Profits are down, but a big part of that is where they are in…
Whose moat is being destroyed by PayPal?! Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Underperformance from Steve this week. Doesn’t matter which one – it’s true of both of them… We’ve had a viewer request to take a look at Nike. And it’s a good one – the stock has been falling, but is it cheap enough to buy? Steve D’s been taking a look at what might be the start of a long process. But Steve W has an idea for how to structure a way in… The S&P 500’s big tech stocks reported this week. And Steve W has a run-down of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. Strong cloud growth is reassuring…
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► Get a free fractional share! This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply. When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. ► What's on the show What is Knowledge Transmission? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s been quite the week in the stock market. There’s not much between the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500, but one of the Steves is there……
How can you get a free t-shirt and a copy of Poor Charlie’s Almanack? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! It’s that time of the year where we reflect on how badly Q1 has gone. And it hasn’t gone well – but it’s better than some have managed. Steve W’s lost 6% this quarter. But he’s made two big moves out of cyclical stocks that have done well and into tech. The timing hasn’t been perfect, but if it hasn’t been terrible. The question, though, is what his plans for the new ISA season are. Steve D is down 6.6% in Q1. But he’s been using some weakness in share prices to add to existing…
When should you fire your fund manager? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Both Steves were pleasantly surprised when they looked at their portfolios this week. Neither is good, but Steve D has done less badly than most. We had a request to talk about what the UK’s Warren Buffett has been saying recently. So Steve W checked out the Fundsmith Meeting. There were no excuses, apparently. But is Terry Smith right about AI, or is this going to be the latest obstacle for the fund? 3i – one of the FTSE 100’s top-performers in recent years – crashed this week. And Steve D’s been looking at…
***CHECK OUT CHARLIE'S SUBSTACK*** https://charliehuggins.substack.com/ (Comment below -- we have three free 30-day trials to offer our listeners). This week on the PlayingFTSE Show, a change from your regularly scheduled podcast. It’s an interview with Charlie Huggins – a former professional fund manager! After a career managing growth-focused portfolios, Charlie now runs the Fiercely Independent Investor substack. And he’s here to talk investing with Steve W. People talk about quality shares a lot. But most of them either don’t know what they mean by it or don’t mean anything at all. How…
About Playing FTSE
We're a UK based podcast discussing all types of investing. Light-hearted and info-packed, we'll try our best to bring you great coverage of the markets, stocks, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible and (we hope) entertaining!
Playing FTSE is a English business podcast from playingftsepodcast. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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