The Billion Dollar Scam

From the BBC World Service. Investigative reporter Simona Weinglass leads a #BBCEye investigation into a criminal network, believed to have scammed more than a billion dollars from victims across the globe. The organisation sponsored a top-tier football club to promote its online trading platform, promising investors the chance of astonishing returns. But what lies behind the claims? The search – from a mansion in London, to a forest in Scandinavia and a call centre in Georgia – reveals a web of deceit. We hear from victims, undercover agents and police, in a bid to track down who’s in charge.

Bonds, Explained Through SVB’s Collapse

Buying U.S. government bonds is among the safest investments you can make. In fact, people often put their college funds and retirement savings into bonds. In the midst of recession fears, bonds are often referred to as “risk-free” because there are only two ways you can lose money: 

• The government defaults, which is almost certainly not going to happen, or 
• You sell the bonds early at a loss, which contributed to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank 

This might make you wonder how safe bonds really are, so WSJ explains why they’re still a good investment.

How to stop AI going rogue

Artificial intelligence is improving so fast that no one knows what it might be capable of. It brings huge opportunities, but also huge risks. Arjun Ramani, The Economist's global business and economics correspondent, explains what could go wrong.

Finfluencers! How Good is Popular Personal Financial Advice?

The term “Finfluencer” refers to a person who by virtue of their popular or cultural status has an outsize impact on investor decisions through social media influence. According to Sue Guan of Santa Clara University, a variety of finfluencers exist in today’s markets, ranging from simple celebrities that draw people's attention like Kim Kardashian to corporate personalities like Elon Musk or Ryan Cohen to ordinary investors who develop followings on YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms. In today's video we examine how the advice of well-known personal finance influencers like Dave Ramsey and Robert Kiyosaki compares to the advice of academics.

Why the World Should Care About Credit Suisse’s Downfall

Switzerland’s secret bank accounts and political neutrality turned the small Alpine nation into a financial giant. Now the demise of Credit Suisse, one of its two big banks, has shaken global finance and created a megabank in UBS that comes with new and potentially bigger risks. 

Bloomberg journalists trace the history of Swiss banking and how the ramifications of the Credit Suisse crisis extend far beyond the country’s borders.

How Tap-to-Pay Works - The Tech Behind

From Apple iPhones to New York City subway turnstiles, tap-to-pay use in everyday American life is growing, thanks in part to its security and ease of use. But tap-to-pay and its small near field communication antennas are more complicated than they look. 

WSJ takes you inside one of Square’s card readers to break down the tech that works in seconds to power contactless payments.

The Rise and Fall of Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is one of the most successful and high profile businessmen in the world. But his recent business ventures; Virgin Galactic, Virgin Orbit, and Virgin Hyperloop have become disasters.