Behind the Money

Two mid-sized American banks are joining forces in a $66bn merger - BB&T and Suntrust. It is the biggest US bank deal since the financial crisis, and analysts say the deal will up the ante on rival banks to consolidate. The FT's Robert Armstrong and James Fontanella Khan dig into the details of the deal, and what it means for the broader industry.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shares in the British bakery chain more than doubled from the time it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2014 to late last year, just before it emerged that its accounts were largely fictitious. The FT's retail correspondent Jonathan Eley walks us through what happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a corner of the credit market that has started to worry regulators - leveraged loans. How does the $1.2tn leveraged loan market work and why do some say it could pose a risk to the financial system? The FT’s Colby Smith and Joe Rennison explain. Read more at FT.com/debtmachine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future is on the line again for the carmakers known as the "big three": Ford, GM and what is now Fiat Chrysler. Ten years ago the question was whether the carmakers would survive the financial crisis. Today, investors wonder if traditional car companies will be able to make the technological shift to an industry of self-driving, electric and service-focused cars. The FT’s Patti Waldmeir reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the past month pharmaceutical companies have spent almost $100bn acquiring biotech companies. The FT's Sarah Neville explains why big pharma is raising its bet on the drug pipelines owned by biotechs, and why analysts expect more consolidation in 2019. Read more from Sarah at FT.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2017, the Chinese ride-hailing app was the highest valued start-up in the world at $56bn. But after a difficult period in 2018 following the murder of two passengers on its platform and a government crackdown, Didi has made a move to diversify by offering financial services. The FT's Yuan Yang reports.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, followed months of mounting scrutiny of the world's biggest telecoms equipment maker. The FT's Nic Fildes explains how Huawei grew to be such a big player, and why western intelligence officials are warning against working with the Chinese company on the next generation of mobile technology.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October, IBM announced it would acquire open source software pioneer Red Hat for $34bn. The deal resonated with Wall Street, but making the two companies work together will be another challenge. The FT’s Richard Waters digs into IBM's history and what its tie-up with Red Hat signals about the future.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil prices plunged below $63 a barrel on Tuesday after weeks of steady declines. The FT's Anjli Raval explains what is behind the souring mood among investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple shares have taken a hit this month amid fears that demand for the iPhone has peaked. Tim Bradshaw explains what is worrying investors.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.