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 business podcast hosted by playingftsepodcast, with 322 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

playingftsepodcast hosts Playing FTSE, a business show with 322 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Playing FTSE

  E-Commerce to SaaS: BIG Earnings Recap

  Aug 9, 20261h 14m

  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 difference between them is quite striking. We’ve had the right framework for thinking about these on the show – so far. But which name has been the runaway winner in Steve’s portfolio? Uber shares went down – and then back up again – after earnings this week. The issue is a familiar one in the form of heavy spending and uncertain returns. It’s not the only company looking to maintain its competitive position in a changing world. But is it going to turn out more like Rightmove, or Microsoft? Progyny losing Amazon as a customer should have been a huge blow. But while it hasn’t been a good thing, the company has continued moving forward. That’s hugely impressive. So why did the stock fall after this week’s earnings report? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here: Free Fractional Share — Open a Trading 212 account through our link and grab shares worth up to £/€100, completely free. Terms apply. https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. 15% Off Fiscal.ai — The investing toolkit we actually use. Analyse stocks, spot hidden opportunities, and build income streams. https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve ► About Playing FTSE: What's happening in the markets — and why should you care? We break down the week's biggest financial news, stocks, and economic mayhem in a way that's actually enjoyable to listen to. No jargon, no waffle, just straight-talking chat about money, markets, and the madness in between. For people who want to get smarter about investing — without wanting to fall asleep. ► Free Investing Course + Newsletter: Join us on Substack for our completely free 10-week investing and research course — no sign-up fees, no paywalls, no nonsense. Plus regular deep dives on market trends, investor psychology, and asset classes that will genuinely make you think differently. https://playingftse.substack.com/ ► Enjoyed the Episode? ☕ Buy us a coffee (we'll spend it on the show, promise): https://ko-fi.com/playingftse Drop a question in the comments or find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ Business enquiries: playingftsepodcast@gmail.com ► Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS 07:07 MERCADO LIBRE 26:50 SAAS 47:28 UBER 1:04:04 PROGYNY ► Show Notes: Playing FTSE is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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  Playing FTSE

  Bugs, Bakes and Bots

  Aug 2, 20261h 14m

  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 short squeeze, or is there more going on? Steve D has the latest news on the number of sausage rolls people are ordering when they don’t have to ask for them in person. Microsoft shares surged this week after the company’s Q4 (as they call it) results. Revenue growth is strong and capex looks under control, but Steve W is looking at something else. Satya Nadella outlined a really interesting plan. Instead of competing with OpenAI and Anthropic, why not just let them compete with each other and cash in? We’ve had a user question from a viewer! How do we screen for stocks and what do we use? The short answer is that we don’t really. But the reasons could be more involved and complicated than you might think… Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here: Free Fractional Share — Open a Trading 212 account through our link and grab shares worth up to £/€100, completely free. Terms apply. https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. 15% Off Fiscal.ai — The investing toolkit we actually use. Analyse stocks, spot hidden opportunities, and build income streams. https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve ► About Playing FTSE: What's happening in the markets — and why should you care? We break down the week's biggest financial news, stocks, and economic mayhem in a way that's actually enjoyable to listen to. No jargon, no waffle, just straight-talking chat about money, markets, and the madness in between. For people who want to get smarter about investing — without wanting to fall asleep. ► Free Investing Course + Newsletter: Join us on Substack for our completely free 10-week investing and research course — no sign-up fees, no paywalls, no nonsense. Plus regular deep dives on market trends, investor psychology, and asset classes that will genuinely make you think differently. https://playingftse.substack.com/ ► Enjoyed the Episode? ☕ Buy us a coffee (we'll spend it on the show, promise): https://ko-fi.com/playingftse Drop a question in the comments or find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ Business enquiries: playingftsepodcast@gmail.com ► Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS 7:33 RENTOKIL 21:21 GREGGS 38:43 MICROSOFT 55:38 HOW WE SCREEN FOR STOCKS ► Show Notes: Playing FTSE is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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  Playing FTSE

  Ins, Outs & Shaking All Abouts -- Is That Really What It's All About?

  Jul 26, 20261h 9m

  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 still on in the US and China. And with the next Geotek expedition now moving further into the distance, Steve D is getting ready to take action… Roper Technologies is one of the stocks Steve W decided to buy as a counter to the rise of AI. And the stock is up on the latest earnings, which seem to be showing strong signs. Revenues and profits are growing and AI integration is pushing the business higher. But is the firm missing a huge chance to be more aggressive with its capital allocation right now? 3i has been one of the FTSE 100’s biggest disappointments since we got interested in it. A strong update, however, and the stock seems to be heading back to its former glories. As usual, it’s all about Action. The recent challenges look like a temporary setback, but where are we now in terms of growth, valuation, and future prospects? Forget Tesla – the S&P 500’s big-name report this week was Alphabet. Steve W thinks the update looked pretty good, but investors don’t seem to agree – the stock fell on the news. Across the company, AI looks like it’s helping products and services. Free cash flow might have gone negative, but the market was ready for that… wasn’t it? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here: Free Fractional Share — Open a Trading 212 account through our link and grab shares worth up to £/€100, completely free. Terms apply. https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. 15% Off Fiscal.ai — The investing toolkit we actually use. Analyse stocks, spot hidden opportunities, and build income streams. https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve ► About Playing FTSE: What's happening in the markets — and why should you care? We break down the week's biggest financial news, stocks, and economic mayhem in a way that's actually enjoyable to listen to. No jargon, no waffle, just straight-talking chat about money, markets, and the madness in between. For people who want to get smarter about investing — without wanting to fall asleep. ► Free Investing Course + Newsletter: Join us on Substack for our completely free 10-week investing and research course — no sign-up fees, no paywalls, no nonsense. Plus regular deep dives on market trends, investor psychology, and asset classes that will genuinely make you think differently. https://playingftse.substack.com/ ► Enjoyed the Episode? ☕ Buy us a coffee (we'll spend it on the show, promise): https://ko-fi.com/playingftse Drop a question in the comments or find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ Business enquiries: playingftsepodcast@gmail.com ► Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS 7:33 JUDGES OUT - BUT WHATS IN? 23:23 ROPER TECHNOLOGIES 38:04 3I 50:08 ALPHABET ► Show Notes: Playing FTSE is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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  Episode #4

  Banks, Buildings & Discount Ferraris

  Jul 19, 20261h 7mS1

  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 and that means one thing: banks. This time, it’s Steve D covering the Wall Street results from Wall Street. The news is pretty positive, which shouldn’t be a big surprise. But is a victory lap in order closer to home with a FTSE 100 name in the Britbox? Steve W has a new name on his list of stocks to buy. It’s Exor – a Dutch holding company trading at a huge discount to its NAV. By itself, that’s not necessarily anything new. But it’s biggest asset might be a unique opportunity to get exposure to a premium name at a huge discount. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here: Free Fractional Share — Open a Trading 212 account through our link and grab shares worth up to £/€100, completely free. Terms apply. https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. 15% Off Fiscal.ai — The investing toolkit we actually use. Analyse stocks, spot hidden opportunities, and build income streams. https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve ► About Playing FTSE: What's happening in the markets — and why should you care? We break down the week's biggest financial news, stocks, and economic mayhem in a way that's actually enjoyable to listen to. No jargon, no waffle, just straight-talking chat about money, markets, and the madness in between. For people who want to get smarter about investing — without wanting to fall asleep. ► Free Investing Course + Newsletter: Join us on Substack for our completely free 10-week investing and research course — no sign-up fees, no paywalls, no nonsense. Plus regular deep dives on market trends, investor psychology, and asset classes that will genuinely make you think differently. https://playingftse.substack.com/ ► Enjoyed the Episode? ☕ Buy us a coffee (we'll spend it on the show, promise): https://ko-fi.com/playingftse Drop a question in the comments or find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ Business enquiries: playingftsepodcast@gmail.com ► Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS 11:07 VISTRY 25:50 BIG BANK ROUNDUP 49:38 EXOR ► Show Notes: Playing FTSE is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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• 

  Playing FTSE

  Revealing All of Our Stocks!

  Jul 5, 20261h 10m

  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 finally time for the big reveal as to what it is. The stock is a FTSE 100 start we’ve had an eye on for some time. But what about Microsoft creeping up in his portfolio? The Eurobox has been a bit of a mixed bag in Q2. It started off slowly, but things are starting to pick up. The story has been familiar with some wider macro themes – defence and data centres. But what changes does Steve D have in mind? The Britbox has done better than either Steve in Q2 – and outperformed the FTSE 100. But it hasn’t all been straightforward. Cohort and Renishaw have been the leading lights. No surprise there, but Steve W hsa a shocking idea for what to add (good job we take a week to think about it). Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here: 🎁 Free Fractional Share — Open a Trading 212 account through our link and grab shares worth up to £/€100, completely free. Terms apply. 👉 https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. 📊 15% Off Fiscal.ai — The investing toolkit we actually use. Analyse stocks, spot hidden opportunities, and build income streams. 👉 https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve ► About Playing FTSE: What's happening in the markets — and why should you care? We break down the week's biggest financial news, stocks, and economic mayhem in a way that's actually enjoyable to listen to. No jargon, no waffle, just straight-talking chat about money, markets, and the madness in between. For people who want to get smarter about investing — without wanting to fall asleep. ► Free Investing Course + Newsletter: 📬 Join us on Substack for our completely free 10-week investing and research course — no sign-up fees, no paywalls, no nonsense. Plus regular deep dives on market trends, investor psychology, and asset classes that will genuinely make you think differently. 👉 https://playingftse.substack.com/ ► Enjoyed the Episode? ☕ Buy us a coffee (we'll spend it on the show, promise): 👉 https://ko-fi.com/playingftse 💬 Drop a question in the comments or find us on Instagram: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/ 📩 Business enquiries: playingftsepodcast@gmail.com ► Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS 9:46 SD 13F 31:22 SW 13F 51:24 EUROBOX 59:35 BRITBOX ► Show Notes: Playing FTSE is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

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