Episode notes
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…
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Playing FTSE
playingftsepodcast · Business · English
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!
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6 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Top 10 Solar Stocks + Investing in a Sports Team?!
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 –…
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30 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 26 min
The Doctor Is Back! And His Diagnosis Is Clear...
**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…
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23 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Building, Credit & Market Measuring
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.…
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16 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Monday, Adyen and is Abel Able?
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…
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9 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
E-Commerce to SaaS: BIG Earnings Recap
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…
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26 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Ins, Outs & Shaking All Abouts -- Is That Really What It's All About?
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…
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S1 · E4 · 19 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Banks, Buildings & Discount Ferraris
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…
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S1 · E3 · 12 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Stocks We're Buying, Selling & Fundsmith Meltdowns!
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…
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5 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Revealing All of Our Stocks!
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…
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28 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Semis, Sheds & Stealthy Taxes
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…
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