Behind the Money

Markets shook after US President Donald Trump announced his so-called reciprocal tariffs earlier this month. But there was one market in particular that got investors particularly worried: Treasuries. What’s usually a safe haven asset suddenly saw huge sell-offs. Trump managed to avoid further pain by pausing large chunks of his tariffs, but the sell-off prompts a discussion about significant structural flaws in the market. The FT’s US markets editor Kate Duguid explains which cracks in the US Treasuries market we can't ignore.Clip from The Wall Street Journal- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Why did Donald Trump buckle?Is the world losing faith in the almighty US dollar?The debt-fuelled bet on US Treasuries that’s scaring regulators - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Kate Duguid on X (@kateduguid). 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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