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Private equity funds are groups of investors that flip companies for a profit. It’s the technique they use that makes them special, as senior producer Paddy Hirsch explains.

If ever there was a word that you’d expect to find in a Harry Potter novel, it’s re-hypothecation. But it's not just a magic trick.

Marketplace's Paddy Hirsch explains why high-yield bonds are just as risky as used auto parts.

Junk. Not a nice word. And when it comes to bonds, not a particularly accurate word, either. Junk is something useless, right? Well, "junk" bonds are definitely not useless. In fact they're extremely useful. Sometimes. Marketplace Senior Producer Paddy Hirsch explains what a junk bond really is.

We've got a new senior producer, so we asked Paddy Hirsch to weigh in on your comments and suggestions -- for him and the show.

Marketplace Money Senior Producer Paddy Hirsch explains why Europe needs dollars instead of euros as the EU tries to sort out its financial problems.

There's been a lot of talk recently about the need to ring-fence certain economies in Europe. These aren't the economies that have defaulted or been bailed out; these are the economies that are too big to fail. Italy is the most glaring example.

One of the solutions being floated around to help save Europe is called a "ringfence." But what is that exactly?

Berlusconi may be gone, but Italia's problems persists. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains how Italy got into the mess it's in today.