FT News Briefing

Financial Times•ft.com

A rundown of the most important global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. Available every weekday morning.

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Episodes

Japan and the US talk tariffs

China’s imports of US liquefied natural gas have completely stopped for more than 10 weeks, and Japan’s chief trade negotiator leaves Washington without an immediate agreement after meeting Donald Trump. The European Central Bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to 2.25 per cent. Plus, astronomers have found signs of biological activity on a planet 124 light years from Earth. Mentioned in this podcast: Astronomers claim strongest evidence yet of extraterrestrial life &...

Apr 18, 2025•11 min

Emerging markets’ surprising performance

  Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell is warning that US tariffs are ‘likely’ to put at risk the central bank’s goals of keeping prices and unemployment in check, and chipmakers are reeling from a tough week. Plus, UK inflation fell more than expected to 2.6 per cent in March and the FT’s Aiden Reiter explains why emerging markets are doing surprisingly well in all this market volatility.   Mentioned in this podcast: Trump tariffs put Fed’s jobs and inflation goals at risk, Powell sa...

Apr 17, 2025•10 min

India’s middle-class debt crisis

Nvidia says it expects to take a $5.5bn blow as the US clamps down on the Silicon Valley group’s ability to export artificial intelligence chips to China, and PwC is exiting 12 countries. Plus, the junk bond market has basically ground to a halt, and India’s middle class is dealing with a debt crisis that could impact the country’s growth ambitions.  Mentioned in this podcast: Nvidia to take $5.5bn hit as US clamps down on exports of AI chip to China Risky corporate borrowers shut out of bo...

Apr 16, 2025•11 min

How Argentina pulled off its latest IMF deal

Brussels is exploring legal options that would allow European companies to break long-term Russian gas contracts, and Goldman Sachs had a mixed first quarter. Plus, China’s President Xi Jinping is traveling around south-east Asia to make the case that Beijing is open for business, and Argentina just landed a $20bn deal with the IMF.  Mentioned in this podcast: Xi Jinping warns ‘no winners’ from Trump trade war as he heads to Vietnam Argentina secures $20bn IMF deal by relaxing currency cont...

Apr 15, 2025•11 min

Is it glass half-full or half-empty for US banks?

This episode discusses the potential temporary nature of US tariff exemptions on electronics, the surprisingly positive earnings reports from big banks despite economic headwinds, the growing defense cooperation between the EU and the UK, the risk of a brain drain from US universities due to Trump administration policies, and a new AI tool for workplace compliments.

Apr 14, 2025•11 min

Swamp Notes: The Federal Reserve’s tariff dilemma

US President Donald Trump’s global trade war has made a mess for the Federal Reserve. Despite an encouraging US consumer price index report this week, there are major concerns about the inflationary nature of Trump’s tariffs. Meanwhile, the Fed has cut growth forecasts. And if all that wasn’t enough, Trump is breathing down chair Jay Powell’s neck to cut interest rates. The FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones and economics commentator Chris Giles explain why the central bank is caught in a dif...

Apr 12, 2025•18 min

Uncertainty reigns in US markets

US inflation fell more than expected to 2.4 per cent in March, and France’s Renault is one of the few carmakers insulated from Donald Trump’s trade war. Plus, Indonesia is looking to run its colossal new sovereign wealth fund “like a public company”.  Mentioned in this podcast: US inflation falls more than expected to 2.4% in March  Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund vows transparency ‘like a public company’ Renault emerges as winner in Trump tariff chaos  Sky to bring hit U...

Apr 11, 2025•11 min

Trump’s tariff reversal

US stocks surged on Wednesday after Donald Trump paused ‘reciprocal’ tariffs for 90 days. Plus, the EU and China are working on a new trade relationship because of the levies. Meanwhile, Apple is looking to boost production in India.  Mentioned in this podcast: EU calls for ‘negotiated resolution’ with China in face of US tariffs Apple turns to India to help ease Trump’s China tariffs US stocks soar as Donald Trump backs down in global trade war The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Sym...

Apr 10, 2025•10 min

Markets might not have hit the bottom yet

Donald Trump is pushing ahead with another 50 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, and there are questions about what will happen to nearly $2tn worth of pledges to invest in the US because of the levies. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains why a selloff in US Treasuries could mean a world of hurt for markets.  Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump to proceed with extra 50% tariff on China as trade war escalates US tariffs threaten almost $2tn of investment pledges by global companies ...

Apr 09, 2025•11 min

Companies look for US tariff workarounds

Equities markets continued to adapt to the tariffs unleashed by US President Donald Trump, oil prices hit a four-year low on Monday, and investors are expecting the European Central Bank to make two rate cuts by July. Plus, the FT’s Stephen Foley explains how consultants are advising their clients on limiting the damage from tariffs.   Mentioned in this podcast: Oil drops further as fears of global recession rise Companies get creative in finding ways to limit impact of Trump’s tariffs...

Apr 08, 2025•10 min

How Italy could decide the EU’s response to tariffs

The UK plans to introduce a lighter regulatory regime for private equity and hedge funds, and Italy may block an EU plan to respond to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Plus, popular ‘private browsing’ apps hosted by Apple and Google may violate American sanctions, and the trade war has triggered the biggest sell-off in the US junk bond market since 2020.  Mentioned in this podcast: Apple and Google app stores host VPNs linked to sanctions-hit Chinese group Britain to dilute rules for pr...

Apr 07, 2025•11 min

Swamp Notes: The costs of Trump’s tariffs

Ed Luce analyzes Trump's new tariffs, revealing they are based on trade surpluses rather than actual trade barriers, causing global economic disruption. This aggressively unilateralist approach isolates the US, pushing other countries towards China and undermining America's negotiating power on global issues. Domestically, the tariffs are expected to raise prices and negatively impact Trump's approval ratings, potentially leading to voter backlash.

Apr 05, 2025•14 min

Trump’s tariffs rattle global markets

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs caused a global market sell-off on Thursday. Now, there are concerns that these levies will push the US into a recession. We speak to the FT’s senior markets correspondent Ian Smith and our economics editor Sam Fleming about the repercussions.  Mentioned in this podcast: Dollar drops as Donald Trump’s tariffs stoke economic fears Bling, bags and booze fall victim to Trump’s trade war  Will Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs drag US into recessio...

Apr 04, 2025•11 min