Behind the Money

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.

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For further reading:

Malaysia: the surprise winner from US-China chip wars

Vietnam dangles semiconductor incentives to draw foreign companies

AI boom broadens out across Wall Street

Plus, sign up for the FT’s Alphaville pub quiz on April 9 in New York.

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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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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For further reading:

Can Elon Musk derail Delaware?

Texas is throwing down a legal challenge to Delaware

Delaware versus Elon Musk

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On X, follow Sujeet Indap (@sindap) 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected], or message her on X at @mtindera07.

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For further reading:

Can OpenAI create superintelligence before it runs out of cash?

OpenAI on track to hit $2bn revenue milestone as growth rockets

OpenAI’s Sam Altman in talks with Middle East backers over chip venture

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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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Movies

Plus, 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.

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For further reading:

The tiny Chinese tea seller whose shares trade more than Tesla’s

Stock markets undergo ‘risk reset’ as indices notch new records

Retail investors are in no rush to join the latest stock market rally

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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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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 [email protected], or message her on X at @mtindera07.

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For further reading:

JPMorgan takes almost a fifth of total US bank profits

US regional banks hope for profit revival as pain from SVB fallout eases

JPMorgan: the bank that never lets a crisis go to waste

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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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.