Behind the Money

A decade ago, Indonesia produced only 6% of the world’s supply of refined nickel. Now, it has a de facto monopoly on the market. How did it happen? The FT’s Jakarta correspondent A. Anantha Lakshmi and FT’s commodities correspondent Camilla Hodgson examine what propelled this explosive growth and how China helped it happen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:‘The Opec of nickel’: Indonesia’s control of a critical metal‘Production first, safety later’: inside the world’s largest nickel siteWestern miner Eramet sees no profits in nickel processing without Chinese partners- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow A. Anantha Lakshmi and Camilla Hodgson on X (@AnanthalakshmiA) (@CamillaHodgson). 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

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election. Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel.If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email economics.show@ft.com Read Martin’s FT column hereSubscribe to Paul’s substack here

Blackstone, Apollo and KKR. Although they have similar origins, these three top private capital groups are moving in different directions amid tumultuous markets. What do these approaches look like? And will they hold up in a potential downturn? The FT’s Antoine Gara, US private equity and deals editor, breaks down each approach and who’s most likely to perform best in the future.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Blackstone and its biggest rivals are drifting apart Should ordinary US retirement accounts be investing in private assets?Private equity industry shrinks for the first time in decades  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Antoine Gara on X (@AntoineGara), or on Bluesky (@antoinegara.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

This week, Swamp Notes goes to London for a live recording. Katie Martin, host of the Unhedged podcast, and Chris Giles, author of the FT’s Central Banks newsletter, discuss what Trump’s next few months might be like. Have markets truly recovered from the “liberation day” shock? What happens after the 90-day tariff pause is over? Our guests weigh in. Subscribe to the new Swamp Notes feed here.Mentioned in this podcast:Read the latest Chris Giles on Central Banks column hereListen to the Unhedged podcast hereSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Mischa Frankl-Duval and Pierre Nicholson.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com 

Ireland has become a major base for US pharma companies, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. That’s bolstered the economies of individual towns and played a role in the country’s massive budget surplus. Now, US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are bringing a dose of uncertainty. The FT’s Ireland correspondent Jude Webber traveled to the town where the world’s supply of Botox is produced to see what impact potential pharmaceutical tariffs might have on the country. Clips from WKYC, The Journal, Bloomberg- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Trump tariffs bring furrowed brows to Ireland’s Botox townTrump’s tariffs threaten Ireland’s pharma fortuneIreland’s luxury problem: what to do with its €8.6bn surplus- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Jude Webber on X (@jude_webber), or on Bluesky (@judewebber.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

Massive conglomerates used to define corporate best practice. Think about a company like General Electric, known as “the everything company”. But today, there’s a new popular model: de-conglomeration. The FT’s former US energy reporter Amanda Chu examines whether this is working for a power business that GE spun off last year – or if it’s just another Wall Street fad. Clips from BBC, Bloomberg, DW - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Rustbelt gamble: GE Vernova rides AI power boom into uncertain futureIs the US power grid ready to meet the demands of data centres?Have America’s industrial giants forgotten what they are for?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Amanda Chu on X (@amandalanchu). 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

In March, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, were fired from their jobs by the Trump administration. They say this was done illegally and are challenging their dismissals. Michela talks with Bedoya about what happened, and why he thinks businesses should be concerned.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Trump’s move to fire us is a terrible warning for the US economyTwo Democrats on US antitrust panel say they were ‘illegally fired’ by Donald TrumpCould Donald Trump fire Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Alvaro Bedoya on X (@BedoyaFTC). 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

Goldman Sachs may have picked its next chief executive years before any planned handover. It has raised eyebrows on Wall Street and would break from the usual process, where multiple candidates typically compete for the top job down to the last second. But it also completes an incredible comeback by current Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. The FT’s US banking editor Joshua Franklin explains how Solomon reasserted his control over Goldman Sachs after a near rebellion and whether his potential successor is up to the task of running one of the world’s biggest banks.Clips from CNBC, Goldman Sachs- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Has Goldman Sachs already chosen its next CEO?Goldman Sachs has lost its wayGoldman Sachs hands chief David Solomon $80mn retention award- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Joshua Franklin on X (@FTJFranklin). 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

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