Behind the Money

Introducing Money Clinic’s Five Minute Investor, a miniseries hosted by Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor. In each episode, Claer challenges top financial commentators to break down financial jargon in just five minutes, making you a smarter, and hopefully richer, investor. Tune in every Tuesday, and subscribe to Money Clinic wherever you get your podcasts. If you would like Claer to demystify an investment term, email the team at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

WeightWatchers is struggling. Launched in the early 1960s, the brand grew by helping members shed pounds through behavioural change programmes. Then, GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs hit the market, long-time spokesperson and board member Oprah Winfrey announced her departure, and the company’s credit rating was downgraded. FT reporter Anna Mutoh examines whether WeightWatchers’ latest strategy can produce the turnaround investors are hoping for.  Clip from Lionsgate Television- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:WeightWatchers faces an era when weight loss comes in a syringeBehold the Ozempic effect on business The race to develop the next generation of weight-loss drugs- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Anna Mutoh (@anna_mutoh) 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

The US and China’s battle for dominance in the semiconductor industry is having some surprising knock-on effects: Companies are looking to insulate their supply chains from rising geopolitical tensions. And many from around the world are setting their sights on Malaysia to set up or expand their chip factories. FT correspondent Mercedes Ruehl explains how the country earned a prized spot in the supply chain, and what it needs to do to keep hold of it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Malaysia: the surprise winner from US-China chip warsVietnam dangles semiconductor incentives to draw foreign companiesAI boom broadens out across Wall StreetPlus, sign up for the FT’s Alphaville pub quiz on April 9 in New York. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Mercedes Ruehl (@mjruehl) 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

The past several years in the US Treasury market have not been what you’d call smooth sailing. Three crises in a decade recently pushed regulators to introduce important changes to the world’s largest and most liquid market. The Securities and Exchange Commission passed the most significant reform a few months ago. The FT’s capital markets correspondent Kate Duguid examines that change — plus the potential pitfalls and promise that come with it. Clips from CNBC, Bloomberg- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:The radical changes coming to the world’s biggest bond marketHas Gensler’s SEC pushed Wall Street too far?SEC tussles with shadow trades in the US Treasury marketRansomware attack on ICBC disrupts trades in US Treasury market- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Kate Duguid (@kateduguid) 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

More questions — more answers! We’ve partnered with the FT’s Unhedged podcast for a special two-part episode, fielding questions you have submitted about markets and finance. The host of Unhedged, Ethan Wu, plus the FT’s US financial commentator Rob Armstrong and markets editor Katie Martin join Michela to traverse topics ranging from the longevity of the Magnificent Seven stocks to Japan’s economic outlook. To listen to the other part of the episode, visit the Unhedged podcast feed.Clips from The Magnificent Seven, The Mirisch Company/United Artists, music by Elmer Bernstein - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:The Magnificent 7 value tradeJapan’s market rally lacks solid backingHow fatalistic should we be on AI?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Ethan Wu (@EthanYWu), Robert Armstrong (@rbrtrmstrng), Katie Martin (@katie_martin_fx) 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

Penny stocks are having a moment. In recent months, little-known companies with names such as Bit Brother and Phunware have been among the most traded stocks in America’s public markets, surpassing companies like Tesla and popular exchange traded funds. The FT’s US markets editor Jennifer Hughes explores why this is happening, and whether retail investors should think twice before diving in. Clip from Paramount MoviesPlus, a note on next week’s show: Look for Behind the Money in your feed a day early, on Tuesday, March 19. We’re doing a special 2-part episode with the Unhedged podcast. One part will be in Unhedged’s feed and the other part will be right here, in Behind the Money’s feed. We’ll be back to our regular Wednesday schedule the following week. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:The tiny Chinese tea seller whose shares trade more than Tesla’sStock markets undergo ‘risk reset’ as indices notch new recordsRetail investors are in no rush to join the latest stock market rally- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Jennifer Hughes (@jennhughes13) 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

It’s been a year since Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse left everyone worried that the US’s banking sector sat on shaky ground. Despite that turmoil, one bank stands out: JPMorgan Chase. The largest bank in the country, JPMorgan took home record profits in 2023, and its dominance looks set to continue. The FT’s US banking editor Joshua Franklin walks through the reasons why JPMorgan flew past its competitors, and what threat its size could pose to smaller banks.Clips from AP, CNBC, KTVU, KPIXPlus, do you have a question about markets, finance or economics? Get in touch with Michela, and we may use it in an upcoming joint show with Unhedged.Email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on X at @mtindera07.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:JPMorgan takes almost a fifth of total US bank profitsUS regional banks hope for profit revival as pain from SVB fallout easesJPMorgan: the bank that never lets a crisis go to waste- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Joshua Franklin (@FTJFranklin) 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

OpenAI is one of the fastest-growing companies ever, thanks to its artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. But costs to train and run the models that underpin that technology are steep. And chief executive Sam Altman has said he has even bigger aims. The FT’s Madhumita Murgia and George Hammond examine whether the start-up’s existing business model can achieve its long-term goals. Plus, do you have a question about markets, finance or economics? Get in touch with Michela, and we may use it in an upcoming joint show with Unhedged. Email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on X at @mtindera07.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Can OpenAI create superintelligence before it runs out of cash?OpenAI on track to hit $2bn revenue milestone as growth rocketsOpenAI’s Sam Altman in talks with Middle East backers over chip venture- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Madhumita Murgia (@madhumita29), George Hammond (@GeorgeNHammond) 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

Billionaire financiers such as Ken Griffin pioneered what’s known as the multi-manager model for hedge funds, where big spending begets big returns. In 2022, Griffin’s Citadel became the best-performing hedge fund of all time. But now, cracks in the sector are beginning to form. The FT’s Harriet Agnew and Ortenca Aliaj examine what a downturn could mean for investors and the broader financial sector. Plus, do you have a question about markets, finance or economics? Get in touch with Michela, and we may use it in an upcoming joint show with Unhedged. Email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on X at @mtindera07.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Are hedge fund pioneers facing the end of a golden era? Bobby Jain’s hedge fund launch falls short of $8bn-$10bn targetHow Ken Griffin rebuilt Citadel’s ramparts - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Harriet Agnew (@HarrietAgnew), Ortenca Aliaj (@OrtencaAl) 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