Behind the Money

Over the past three decades, China has built itself into a manufacturing powerhouse. The plan was simple: use exports as a way to avoid becoming too dependent on the west. But with US President Donald Trump imposing 145 per cent tariffs on the country, this strategy now hangs in the balance. The FT’s Beijing bureau chief Joe Leahy explains how Beijing built its export machine and whether its plan to sell the world cheap goods could go wrong. Clip from European Commission. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Will China’s manufacturing juggernaut run out of road? How China’s record trade surplus helped spark Trump’s tariff war China says ‘sky won’t fall’ as exports surge ahead of Donald Trump’s tariffs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Joe Leahy on X (@leahyjoseph). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs caused havoc in the markets, notably hitting Big Tech stocks such as Apple. The company lost more than $300bn in market value the next day, and its path forward is complicated. The FT’s San Francisco correspondent Michael Acton explains why the iPhone maker is vulnerable, and what options it has to minimise the damage.Clips from PBSNewshour, C-SPAN- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Apple loses more than $300bn in market value from Trump tariff hitApple and other US tech groups hit as Donald Trump targets suppliersFraying transatlantic ties will cost companies dearlyAnd for further listening: Why Apple can’t leave China- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Michael Acton on X (@MActon93). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A huge chunk of any typical bank’s profits comes from charging interest. But what happens when you can’t do that? This week, we’re traveling to Pakistan with the FT’s Humza Jilani, where the country has decided to make its entire banking sector align with Islamic law, which forbids charging interest. We’ll discuss how Islamic banks function and if this banking model can become Pakistan’s dominant system. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Meezan Bank’s soaring shares herald rise of Islamic finance in PakistanClerics’ rule change threatens to throw Islamic debt market into turmoilWorld Bank approves 10-year $20bn Pakistan lending package- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Humza Jilani (@humza_jilani) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya-ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Years ago, an ailing company like Walgreens Boots Alliance may have seemed like a prime acquisition target for deal-hungry private equity firms. But many have backed away from retail recently, leaving an opening for groups like Sycamore Partners who are willing to buck the trend. Sycamore announced this month that it would take the global pharmacy business private in a $23.7bn debt and equity deal. The FT’s Due Diligence reporter, Amelia Pollard, explains the well-worn playbook that Sycamore has used on past retail companies, and whether it will work this time with a chain that has its own share of unique problems.  Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, CBS- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Retail’s last barbarian: the private equity group about to play hardball with BootsWhat went wrong after Walgreens bought Boots? Walgreens bondholders could be winners from its debt-laden buyout- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Amelia Pollard (@ameliajpollard) on X or (@pollard.bsky.social) on Bluesky. Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. For more from Amelia and her team, sign up for the Due Diligence newsletter. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surging price of gold is leading to some unexpected outcomes. The FT’s Aanu Adeoye traveled to Ghana to see how this is playing out among two of the country’s top commodities: gold and cocoa. Aanu and the FT’s Susannah Savage explain how the two commodities are linked and how it is impacting the people who live in the country.  Clips from NBC, ABC, CBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How illegal gold mining is fuelling a chocolate shortageFood groups develop a taste for cocoa alternativesFrom London to New York via Switzerland: the booming trade in gold bars- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Aanu Adeoye (@aanuadeoye) and Susannah Savage (@SavageSusannah) on X. Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disputes over power and pay aren’t unusual at Wall Street’s top firms. What isn’t ordinary is when the conflict turns into a decade-long legal battle. That was the case for boutique investment firm Perella Weinberg Partners and their former star banker, Michael Kramer. After 10 years, their dispute recently went to trial in Manhattan. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap had a seat inside the courtroom, and tells us what he learned about the inner workings of the firm. Clips from Bloomberg, Fox Business- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Perella Weinberg trial lifts veil on bitter feud among top bankers Court brawl reveals fractious world of investment banking Wall Street’s battle of the bankers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Sujeet Indap on X (@sindap) or on Bluesky (@sindap.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Little is known about Russia’s “shadow fleet”. These ships have been used to move Russian oil around the globe and avoid restrictions put in place by western governments after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.The existence of the shadow fleet is worth billions of dollars a year to the Kremlin. But who owns these ships? How were they acquired? Who oversees their operations? Many of these questions went unanswered, until a recent FT investigation. Senior energy correspondent Tom Wilson explains what he found and what could happen next for the fleet as an end to the war is discussed among world leaders. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ gets its ships Shares in shipbroker Braemar fall after FT report on Russian ‘shadow fleet’UK cracks down on Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’EU agrees new Russia sanctions in the face of US push to end Ukraine warTo see some of the vessels mentioned in this episode, check out the Bosphorus Observer, the blog of ship spotter Yoruk Isik.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Tom Wilson on X (@thomas_m_wilson). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanguard became a powerhouse money manager thanks to a commitment to the philosophy of founder Jack Bogle. Now, with a new chief executive, can the firm push into other areas of financial services and reshape those too? The FT’s US managing editor Brooke Masters explains how the company’s guiding mantra could help or hinder these plans. Clips from CNBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Vanguard plans to play disruptor againVanguard puts pressure on rivals with large round of fee cutsVanguard plans fresh push into active fixed-income market- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Brooke Masters on X (@brookeamasters), or on Bluesky (@brookeamasters.ft.com) Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This January, DeepSeek made an announcement that changed the artificial intelligence landscape. The Chinese start-up said that it had trained the latest in a series of competitive AI models, which appeared to be built much more cheaply than those of Silicon Valley competitors. The FT’s China technology correspondent, Eleanor Olcott, first wrote a story about the company last summer. She’s on today to discuss how DeepSeek’s founder Liang Wenfeng was able to finance and grow his company at a time when start-up funding is scarce in China, and often comes with too many strings attached. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Liang Wenfeng, the DeepSeek founder panicking the tech worldThe global AI race: is China catching up to the US? Xi Jinping seizes DeepSeek moment to restore China tech chiefs to spotlight- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Eleanor Olcott on X (@EleanorOlcott). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New York Stock Exchange wants to get in on a growing trend amongst investors: overnight stock trading. The largest exchange in the world recently submitted a proposal to allow shares to trade for 22 hours a day. US markets editor Jennifer Hughes looks into the thorny questions this proposal raises about how equity markets function. Clips from New York Stock Exchange - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Is Wall Street ready to stay up all night?US regulators approve first round-the-clock stock exchangeWhat does Robinhood want to be when it grows up?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Jennifer Hughes on X (@jennhughes13). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump wants energy producers to drill for more oil. He claims it will lower prices for consumers and tackle inflation. But oil companies have a different set of priorities — and those could send them on a collision course with Trump. Clips from C-Span, Fox, ABC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:When peak Chinese oil demand meets ‘drill, baby, drill’ A shale boom is not Donald Trump’s gift to give Wall Street will stymie Donald Trump’s US oil surge plan, say shale bosses- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Amanda Chu (@amandalanchu) and Jamie Smyth (@jamiesmythft.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.bsky.social), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexico’s new president Claudia Sheinbaum is pursuing an ambitious agenda for her country. It promises a better standard of living for Mexicans. But investors in the country’s economy have their concerns – and now there’s a new threat on the horizon: US President Donald Trump. The FT’s Mexico and Central America correspondent Christine Murray explains how Sheinbaum will navigate the nation’s economic path forward.  Clip from Global News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Mexico’s new president digs in with radical ideas as Trump threat loomsMexico pledges to shrink trade deficit with China in nod to Donald TrumpMexico’s first female president to take power under mentor’s shadow- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Christine Murray on X (@chrissiemurray). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.bsky.social), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every so often a cool new financial innovation springs up and gains popularity on Wall Street, promising juicy returns for investors. That’s why “synthetic risk transfers” or SRTs are in fashion. But ever since the financial crisis, trendy acronyms have also made some people nervous. And it’s recently caught the attention of organisations such as the IMF. The FT’s Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth explains why he’s been following this and whether regulators should be raising the alarm. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Inside Wall Street’s booming $1tn ‘synthetic risk transfer’ phenomenonPrivate credit is even larger than you thinkMake Europe (securitisation) great again - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Robin Wigglesworth on Bluesky (@robinwigglesworth.bsky.social) or on X (@RobinWigg). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.bsky.social), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wall Street dealmakers are itching for an M&A revival during president-elect Donald Trump’s second term. But as he prepares to move back to the White House, the picture appears more complicated. The FT’s head of Lex, John Foley, explains what dealmaking over the next four years might look like and the surprising similarities it could share with Joe Biden’s administration. Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, DW News, FOX Business- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:US Steel’s tortuous un-merger is a deal for the agesPlaying the M&A Trump cardDeals are back, baby (for real this time?)Will Trump’s new antitrust enforcers help make M&A great again?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow John Foley on Bluesky (@johnsfoley.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.bsky.social), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro-crypto investors spent millions to re-elect Donald Trump to the US presidency, after he told voters he wanted to make America the “crypto capital of the planet”. As the second Trump administration begins, what does the crypto sector want most? And, what are the risks if they get it?  Clips from Sky News, Bitcoin Magazine- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Crypto industry dreams of a golden era under TrumpThe crypto crown princes who could ‘win, win, win’ under Trump The grim ghost of crypto future- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Nikou Asgari (@nikasgari) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07) on X, Bluesky (@mtindera.bsky.social) or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In early December, the Financial Times and Schroders selected the 2024 winner of the Best Business Book of the Year. That book is called Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world, and it’s written by tech journalist Parmy Olson. In this special episode of Behind the Money, the FT’s senior business writer Andrew Hill interviews Parmy Olson about her book and the importance of oversight as artificial intelligence becomes more intertwined with our work and society. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Winner Parmy Olson on AI: ‘It’s not uncontrollable’FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2024 — the shortlistBusiness Book of the Year Award 2024: winners pick their favouritesRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Slate Money: South Korea and France are the latest governments to fall apart. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the public conversation around the failures of the US healthcare system that was sparked by the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Then, South Korea and France follow Germany in having a governmental meltdown. What’s going on with all of this political chaos? And finally, the hosts discuss a piece in The Ringer about why headlights are just way too bright and what, if anything, is being done about it.This episode originally aired on December 7th. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft need loads of electricity to power their artificial intelligence goals, and they are looking into all options, including nuclear power, to achieve them. That’s why Microsoft has partnered with a utility company to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in US history. The FT's US energy editor Jamie Smyth explains what challenges lie ahead with a 2028 deadline looming.  Clips from CBS News, ABC News, WNEP- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Restart of Three Mile Island tests US appetite for nuclear revivalResurgent US electricity demand sparks power grid warnings Big Tech’s dash for nuclear power- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Jamie Smyth and Michela Tindera on X (@JamieSmythF) (@mtindera07), on Bluesky (@jamiesmythft.bsky.social), (@mtindera.bsky.social) or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michela joins live from the FT’s Global Banking Summit in London. She sits down with three reporters and editors to analyse how the banking industry will shape up during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. She’s joined by the FT’s US financial editor Brooke Masters and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj alongside Michael Klimes, investment banking and capital markets editor at The Banker. They discuss what banks stand to gain and lose, and what the industry may look like four years from now. The conversation was recorded on December 3 2024. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:A Wall Street giddy over Trump should remember historyIn Donald Trump, Wall Street will get what it wanted — and what it did notTrump 2.0: winners, losers and Elon- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Michela recently joined Bluesky, follow her there: @mtindera.bsky.social, Her guests are also on Bluesky: Brooke Masters (@brookeamasters.bsky.social) and Ortenca Aliaj (@ortenca.bsky.social), or follow Michael Klimes reporting at FT’s The Banker (@thebanker.bsky.social) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not long ago, the Swedish battery maker Northvolt was seen as Europe's best hope for staying competitive with other global players during the green transition. Investors flocked to it, and it even became the continent’s best funded startup. But things look very different now. The company is fighting for survival and even filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November. The FT’s Nordic and Baltic bureau chief Richard Milne spent years reporting on Northvolt and explains its meteoric rise and what its implosion means for Europe’s battery industry. Clip from Aftonbladet- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Europe’s battery champion descended into crisis‘There was so much promise’: How Northvolt tumbled into bankruptcyThe Northvolt dilemma: can European EVs avoid relying on Asian batteries?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Richard Milne (@rmilneNordic) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.