Behind the Money

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.

How did Denmark’s Danske Bank find itself at the centre of one of the largest money laundering scandals the world has ever seen? The FT’s Richard Milne explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the world’s most influential financiers and executives have spent the past three years courting Saudi Arabia’s dealmaker-in-chief Mohammed bin Salman and his $300bn state investment fund. But the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has turned the pursuit of trophy deals into an exercise in crisis management. The FT's Arash Massoudi explains how the crown prince sought to modernise the Saudi economy with support of the global business elite, and what the future holds for dealmaking with the kingdom.Review clips: CNBS, Bloomberg, Fox Business Network, France 24, WSJ.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful discussion, Ed Crooks, the US industry and energy editor for the Financial Times, explores the dramatic rise and fall of General Electric. He delves into GE's historic growth to a $600 billion valuation and the pivotal challenges it faced with its Alstom acquisition. Crooks highlights critical miscalculations in the shift towards renewable energy and how leadership changes impacted GE's financial strategies. Finally, he discusses the company's future as it pivots away from conglomeratization, emphasizing the lessons learned from past failures.