Michela Tindera

For decades, countries in the Middle East have dominated the oil market, pumping large quantities of the world’s supply. Along with that has come a pattern: when there’s conflict in the region, oil prices rise. The pattern seems to be breaking though, mainly because of one thing: US shale. The FT’s Myles McCormick explains how production in the country shifted oil’s epicentre away from the Middle East, and how long that may last. Clips from Al Jazeera, CBS, CNN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -…

When a company is sold there tends to be a standard playbook: There’s some tough negotiations. Then, the buyer gets a business and the seller gets a check. Everyone’s happy. That’s not what happened when a private equity firm recently bought a California grocery store chain. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap explains how the deal went off the rails, and how the supermarket’s owners might end up paying millions of dollars to sell their company. Clip from KCRA - - - - - - - - - - - - - -…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘When M&A goes wrong’ Michela Tindera Today I want to talk about M&A. That’s mergers and acquisitions. Now to do this, I’m gonna dive into a bit of a hypothetical situation here where I’ve spent years not covering financial news, but rather making and selling the best pizza in New York. Now I called in the FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap to help me with the next part here. So, Sujeet, let’s picture this. I have this pizz…

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 fro…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘Listener mailbag with the Unhedged podcast’ [MUSIC PLAYING] Michela Tindera Hey everyone, it’s Michela. Happy Tuesday. Today’s show is a little different than what we typically do. This week we’re joining forces with the FT’s Unhedged podcast for a special two-part episode. You might remember a few weeks ago we did a callout asking you to send us questions you have about markets and finance. Well, now we have some answers.…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘Are penny stocks getting the memestock treatment?’ Michela TinderaHey there, BTM listeners, it’s Michela. I wanna give you a heads-up about next week’s show rather than our regularly scheduled Wednesday episode. You can look for us in your feed a day early on Tuesday, March 19th. That’s because we’re doing a special two-part episode with our friends over at the FT’s Unhedged podcast. You’ll find one part of the show in the Un…

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, KPIX P…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘How JPMorgan thrived amid a banking crisis’ Michela Tindera Josh, if you were to describe US banking throughout 2023, in one word, what would it be? Joshua Franklin I would say panic. [MUSIC PLAYING] Michela Tindera Panic. Let’s think back to then. Right around this time last March. Silicon Valley Bank is on the verge of collapse. And when it does, that sparks a crisis among regional banks. And others fall too. It shakes A…

A Delaware court recently struck down Elon Musk’s $56 billion Tesla pay package. Soon after, Musk took to his social network X and offered some advice: “Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.” But will anyone take it? The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap explains how Delaware became the favourite place for big companies to incorporate and why that’s unlikely to change. Clips from BBC, WFAA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Can Elon…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘Baidu’s ‘do-or-die’ bet on AI’ Michela Tindera Back in September, Robin Li, the CEO of one of China’s biggest tech companies, Baidu, appears for a speech at a conference in Beijing. He’s wearing a black button down with the Baidu logo stamped on his shirt. [CLIP OF ROBIN LI’S SPEECH PLAYING] Michela Tindera In his speech, Li has a clear message to the other entrepreneurs and executives at the conference: Don’t compete with…

The nuclear power industry is receiving a lot of attention recently thanks in part to new technological advancements. That’s excited venture capital groups and private investors, such as Bill Gates and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. But the industry is also known for its boom-and-bust cycles. The FT’s US energy editor Jamie Smyth explains there are many challenges that lie ahead for an industry, which has long been plagued by controversy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further r…

BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink has been on the hunt for the money manager’s next “transformational” deal. Earlier this month, Fink revealed that he had finally found it with the acquisition of a private capital firm, Global Infrastructure Partners. The FT’s US financial editor Brooke Masters and US private capital correspondent Antoine Gara explain why BlackRock wanted GIP, and how this deal sets the agenda for Wall Street this year. Clips from CNBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘Ozempic’s unconventional origins’ Michela Tindera It’s November, and the FT’s global pharmaceutical editor Hannah Kuchler is in Copenhagen. She’s visiting the headquarters of the drugmaker Novo Nordisk. Hannah Kuchler So, this company is changing the world. And I wanted to go to Copenhagen to see its headquarters, to see how the scientists have created these wonder drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, and what they plan to do next. M…

The runaway success of diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have turned their maker, Novo Nordisk, into a juggernaut. Last year the Danish drugmaker claimed the title of Europe’s most valuable company. But the development of these drugs was a long, uphill battle.The FT’s global pharmaceutical editor Hannah Kuchler explains how the company’s unique ownership structure played a critical role in the company’s achievements and looks at the challenges ahead. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘Author Amy Edmondson on ‘intelligent failure’’ Michela Tindera Earlier this month, the Financial Times and Schroders gave out their annual prize for the best Business Book of the Year. There are some fascinating books on this year’s shortlist. They ran the gamut from Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk to an investigation into human rights abuses in cobalt mining. But the one that came out on top is a book called Right K…

Every year, the Financial Times selects the most outstanding business book of the year. For 2023, the top pick is a book about failure. The FT’s senior business writer Andrew Hill sits down with the winner, Amy Edmondson, the author of Right Kind of Wrong and “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. Edmondson’s book explores the value in failure, what we can learn from it and what’s wrong with Silicon Valley’s “fail fast, fail often” mantra. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -…

The UN climate conference COP28 is in full swing, and officials from around the world are discussing ways to combat climate change. The agenda includes questions around how to regulate a market that could soon take off — carbon credits. Right now, these credits serve as a way for private buyers, such as companies and individuals, to offset their emissions. But countries may be able to start using these too. FT climate reporter Kenza Bryan explains the risks that could come with this market expan…

In October two US oil and gas giants announced massive deals: Chevron bought Hess, and ExxonMobil acquired Pioneer Natural Resources. These deals expand each company’s operations and secure their access to more oil for decades to come. But recent forecasts say global demand for fossil fuels will soon reach its peak. The FT’s Myles McCormick looks at why these companies are betting oil demand will stick around and whether that bet will pay off. Clips from Yahoo Finance, Reuters, CNBC, Bloomberg…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘How Microsoft bagged Activision Blizzard’ [AUDIO CLIP FROM ‘CALL OF DUTY’ PLAYING] Michela Tindera In the video game Call of Duty, you’re dropped into the shoes of elite military forces advancing through combat zones. [AUDIO CLIP FROM ‘CALL OF DUTY’ PLAYING] Michela Tindera The game puts you on a mission to attain glory over a wide variety of enemies. It’s one of the world’s best-selling video game franchises, and as of ea…

This is an audio transcript of the Behind the Money podcast episode: ‘The push to dominate the battery supply chain’ Michela Tindera As the world is pushing to move away from fossil fuels, there are many new opportunities for different groups to make a fortune. The FT’s commodities correspondent Harry Dempsey says just look at the electric vehicle sector. Harry Dempsey So the electric vehicle market is set to be absolutely enormous. It’s already quite big, but it’s set to grow even more. And b…