Top consulting firms have repeatedly found themselves facing a reputational crisis. The most recent example was in early July, when a Financial Times investigation revealed that Boston Consulting Group had modelled a plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza after entering into a multimillion-dollar contract to help launch an aid scheme for the enclave. In this week’s episode, the FT’s US accounting editor, Stephen Foley, explains his reporting and examines what these events say about how effective the consulting industry’s ability to avoid reputational scandals is.

Clips from the UN

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For further reading:

BCG modelled plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza

Inside Gaza’s ‘death traps’

The little-known group poised to take over Gaza’s aid

BCG gets caught up in a scandal in Gaza

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Follow Stephen Foley on X (@stephenfoley) and Bluesky (‪@stephenfoleyft.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

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

It’s been exactly 90 days since US President Donald Trump paused most of his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs. With just a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all imports and a higher tariff on China, economists predicted the American economy would feel the heat pretty quickly. But the sky hasn’t fallen yet – the world’s largest economy is holding strong. The FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones explains why that is and when markets may start to feel the effects of Trump’s tariffs.

Clips from CBS News, CNBC, TODAY

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For further reading:

Donald Trump renews threat to hit trading partners with steep tariffs

Tariffs on household goods bring home costs of Trump’s trade wars

US tariff receipts surge in Donald Trump’s trade war

US narrows trade focus to secure deals before Donald Trump’s tariff deadline

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Follow Claire Jones on X (@senoj_erialc) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya 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.

When Iran attacked a US airbase in Qatar – a response to strikes on its nuclear facilities – many feared a global war may be imminent. But there was one market that didn’t break a sweat: oil. It’s typically a commodity that surges at the first sight of conflict in the Middle East. This time though, oil traders bet that the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US would be short-lived. The FT’s energy editor Malcolm Moore explains how traders called the outcome correctly.

Clips from ABC News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, Fox 9 Minneapolis St Paul, ITV News, KTLA 5, NBC News

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For further reading:

How oil traders called the Middle East conflict

Fuel and fury: energy becomes a Middle East battlefield

Why oil traders are watching the Strait of Hormuz

Why is the oil price not surging?

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Follow Malcolm Moore (@MalcolmMoore) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya 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.