Playing FTSE

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333

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Nov 2026

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About the show

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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November 1, 20261 hr 9 min

Shoddy Earnings, Shoddy Budget?

What’s the opposite of resilience? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Neither Steve has had a good week in the stock market. Is this the week that Q4 – and the rest of – 2026 slips away to the indexes? At one level, the UK Budget was not much of not much. But we’ve still managed to find about half an hour’s worth of stuff to talk about. There are changes to ISAs and news on the Triple Lock. And Steve W might be the only person in Britain who’s against scrapping the gas standing charge. Microsoft and Alphabet reported earnings on Wednesday and received contrasting reactions. Steve W’s having a look at the differences between their updates. While AI is boosting one core business, the other seems to be threatened by it. But they’re both looking to raise capital in the near future… Cybersecurity is one of the industries that stands to do well out of AI. But Fortinet faltered in its latest update and the stock is now 30% off its highs. Steve D used to own this one and has been having another look. Could there be an opportunity in firewalls for investors at today’s prices? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 6:52 THE BUDGET 34:10 ALPHABET VS MICROSOFT 56:42 FORTINET ► 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.

October 25, 20261 hr 4 min

How to Stream Shows, Get Robot Surgery, and Retire Rich

Why haven’t the Steves been sleeping well? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Both Steves have outperformed this week and it’s the same one stock carrying them higher. A UK name that’s the fourth-largest investment in both their portfolios. Steve D talked about it at the start of Q4 and has had an eye on the situation for a little while. But for Steve W, it’s a bold move that’s paid off, but was it a silly one? Netflix shares are down and the reason isn’t hard to find. Growth is slowing and the company has a new and meaningful competitor to deal with. According to Steve D, however, it’s historically cheap. And Steve W thinks it has some important competitive strengths that investors tend to overlook at times like these… Steve W’s new(ish) stock Intuitive Surgical has had quite the week. It fell sharply after results, but – after we recorded this – it snapped back again to finish the week well up. Sometimes you can’t keep a good stock down. But has Steve W identified a key risk to the company’s business model going forward? We’ve never talked about Pensionbee before, but Steve D has been taking a look. It’s got a Beekeeper and a Beebot but is there anything in its B2B channel growth? Steve W can’t make up his mind. It’s probably a good thing for people to be able to access their forgotten pensions, but it’s a pity if this is something the world needs… Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 11:43 NETFLIX 30:44 INTUITIVE SURGICAL 45:52 PENSIONBEE ► 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.

October 18, 20261 hr 18 min

1 Growth Stock, 1 Dividend Stock, 1 Value Stock

What does winning feel like? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! Steve W’s winning streak in the stock market continues, with a good all-round performance. And Steve D’s not had a bad week either. The S&P 500’s bank stocks reported earnings and we’re on the case. Steve W’s taking a look at what it tells us about the US economy. Market volatility means it’s been a good few months for equity traders, while bond desks have faltered. But is that likely to be the story in Q4 and beyond? Steve D sold his ASML shares recently – was that a mistake? The latest earnings look decent, but it’s hard not to notice that chip stocks have been under pressure recently. The business looks well-balanced across various product lines. So with the competitive position still looking secure, could there be a chance to buy back in if the price falls? Supermarket Income REIT is a dividend stock we haven’t paid attention to for some time. But Steve W’s been taking a look at the latest earnings. There’s a high yield on offer, but the risks are obvious. And with the firm renewing a lease at a 15% discount, the dividend cover doesn’t match the stated ambitions… European luxury houses have been under pressure recently, especially ones based in France. High debt to GDP, rising bond yields, and high-profile riots are alarming. Could this be the time to step in and think about buying some of the quality names in the one thing Europe does better than anywhere else? Steve D’s taking a look. Only on the PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 12:06 US BANK ROUNDUP 29:45 ASML 47:07 SUPERMARKET REIT 01:05:12 LVMH ► 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.

October 11, 20261 hr 0 min

New Buys & Sells!

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 talked about before. And Steve W has a name for the Britbox that he thinks could be the next Rolls-Royce. What about that cork company, though? Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten – Steve W has been looking this week, but there’s one more question he wants an answer to… JD Wetherspoon shares have exploded in the last week or so after the firm’s full-year update. But Steve W doesn’t think the results were that great. Margin pressure is weighing on earnings, as expected. Nonetheless, the stock is well beyond its previous 52-week highs and Steve sees lots to be positive about. Steve D’s been looking at Tesco, though he mostly doest his shopping elsewhere. The UK’s biggest retailer is an impressive operation and its results are very strong. The firm has done very well in fending off the German discounters. But with plotting from Sainsbury and Morrison’s behind the scenes, could there be challenges ahead? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 7:57 BRITBOX & EUROBOX CHANGES 26:24 WETHERSPOONS 40:13 TESCO ► 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.

October 4, 20261 hr 1 min

Reviewing Our Q3 - It Was Going So Well....

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 way off. So is it time to sell, take the hit, and move on, or risk turning a small loss into a much bigger one? During Q3, Steve D sold ASML, Amazon, Vistry, and Judges Scientific. But he’s finished with more or less the same number of stocks – so what has he been buying? There’s a new robot surgery stock (not the same one Steve W’s been buying). And he’s been thinking a lot about Netflix, with the stock down significantly from its highs… The Eurobox and the Britbox have both underperformed in Q3. Blame the stocks or the people who chose them. Time to get things back on track in Q4. But is the cork company that we’ve been asked to take a look at the solution for the Eurobox? Over on the Britbox side, Steve D has a radical idea. What’s Steve W planning? Find out on next week’s show. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 6:19 STEVE W’S Q3 23:19 STEVE D’S Q3 47:21 BOXES ► 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.

September 27, 202659 min

Empires, Dynasties and Broken Promises

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 its net asset value, but could that be about to change? There’s a share buyback programme on the way and the potential for an exciting new investment. Steve W thinks this one looks interesting. It’s been a tough couple of years for Nike shareholders and the news isn’t really getting any better. Kylian Mbappe has moved to a competitor. On Running has been taking share from the market leader for some time. But with the stock now trading at the same multiples as Nike, is it worth a look at these prices? Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Free Fractional Shares + 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 5:01 VISTRY 20:43 EXOR 40:46 ON HOLDINGS ► 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.

September 20, 20261 hr 11 min

We Meet ISA Investor!

**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 a really interesting one. There’s no big hyperscaler tech and it’s focused on a few key ideas that have been working really well. AI, healthcare, and commodities producers dominate the portfolio. And that speaks to a much deeper investing strategy that’s worth thinking about going forward… Unlike a lot of our usual guests, ISA Investor UK is active with options. But only selectively and in some very specific cases. Hedging and passive income are legitimate strategies for options traders, but not really ISA Investor. Steve W wants to know why not. We’ve not really talked about KGHM on the show before. And that might be an oversight on our part, given our previous interest in copper and mining stocks. ISA Investor explains the rationale for looking at a company that combines low production costs with relatively low political risks. One to consider buying? In our quick-fire round, we’re talking about ASML, Intuitive Surgical, and Uber. But are these cases of ISA INvestor, or ISA OUtvestor? There are some surprising results from our guest. And there’s also an interesting story about Airbnb to talk about… 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 2:00 MEET ISA INVESTOR 12:50 PORTFOLIO 25:02 OPTIONS 35:51 ISA’S STOCK 49:13 IN-VESTOR OR OUT-VESTOR ► 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.

September 13, 20261 hr 4 min

Chips, Dinosaurs and Strippers

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 a new UK stock to take a look at – Frontier Developments. It’s a video games business, think managing theme parks, F1 teams, and zoos. The interesting assets are the firm’s licenses. With Warhammer 40,000 on board and a new Disney title on the way, could this be an under-the-radar stock to buy? Rosebank Industries is a FTSE 250 name that James Fox – one of our previous guests – likes a lot. And it’s in a very familiar type of industry for this show. Buying, improving, and selling is a business model that we’ve seen a lot. But is this company more like QXO, 3i, or Avingtrans? 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 7:17 NVIDIA 26:43 FRONTIER 43:03 ROSE ► 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.

September 6, 20261 hr 11 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 – specifically solar – is the next big thing, investors are going to want to know what to look at. And Steve D’s been on the case for us. 10 stocks follow – in two sets of five. Some are better-known than others, but are any of them worth buying at today’s depressed prices? 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 1:22 MANCHESTER UNITED 18:18 FIVE SOLAR STOCKS INTRO 24:20 NEXTPOWER 27:45 BLOOM ENERGY 30:43 FIRST SOLAR 32:53 SHOALS TECH 35:20 ARRAY TECH 45:10 SOLAREDGE 48:16 ENPHASE 51:00 SUNRUN 54:07 TOYO 58:00 FLUENCE ENERGY ► 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.

August 30, 20261 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 selling high, which is what the best investors do. On top of that, though, he’s got some very specific things he looks for in an investment. So what’s he been buying and selling over the last few months? AI has been the theme of 2026 and some time before and Micron has been one of our guest’s top-performing stocks. But he also has some reservations about the industry. Sooner or later, someone has to make some money in the industry. James, however, thinks the hardware buildout could still have years left to run… Energy is the other big theme James has been looking at. It’s well-known that data centres need a lot of power and that has to come from somewhere. Is solar the answer? It solves a lot of the problem of grid connectivity and with the US focused on oil, it’s hard to argue that the stocks are consensus choice right now… It’s been a tough year for Terry Smith and Fundsmith. But the UK’s Warren Buffett has announced a change of strategy and it looks a bit like closer alignment with James. Despite this, our guest isn’t entirely convinced by some of the latest Fundsmith moves. And one stock that’s particularly interesting at the moment is AppLovin. Is the doctor in or out on Adobe, MercadoLibre, and SpaceX? And what about BAE Systems, Barratt Redrow and Wise? It’s our quickfire stock discussion with the UK’s top-ranked independent stock picker. This is one you won’t want to miss. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!