China’s leader Xi Jinping is set to begin his third-consecutive five-year term, and the UK’s Jeremy Hunt starts his first full week as the country’s latest chancellor of the Exchequer. Plus, the US Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes are boosting US banks’ bottom lines. Mentioned in this podcast: US banks gain from Fed rate hikes while keeping deposit interest low Xi Jinping heralds ‘critical time’ in history as he prepares for third term in power Can anything save Liz Truss? The FT...
Oct 17, 2022•10 min
This week we speak with Shirin Neshat, one of the most famous contemporary artists from Iran, about the protests in her home country. Shirin’s work focuses on the lives and struggles of Iranian women. The protests have been raging for a month, which, as Shirin says, makes them the longest-running demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution. We talk about what they mean, why this time they’re different, and her art, some of which has been recently projected on buildings in London and Los Ang...
Oct 15, 2022•29 min
Investors shrugged off another high US inflation report and Liz Truss could be about to rip up her ‘mini’ Budget. New US export controls force global semiconductor equipment makers to suspend sales and services to Chinese chip companies. Mentioned in this podcast: US consumer prices rise sharply despite Federal Reserve rate increases US stocks shrug off early declines following hot inflation report Liz Truss in crisis talks on new tax cut U-turn World’s top chip equipment suppliers halt business...
Oct 14, 2022•9 min
Emerging economies have seized price discounts to buy cheaper Russian oil, and the FT News Briefing election series will take listeners around the US to hear what’s on voters’ and candidates’ minds as they head into elections this November that will determine which party controls Congress. Mentioned in this podcast: How abortion rights are upending the US midterm elections Crisis hit Sri Lanka snaps up cheap Russian oil The Rachman Review podcast The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, ...
Oct 13, 2022•10 min
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on G7 countries to speed up supplies of air defence systems after another day of Russian missile attacks, and the biggest US banks will signal worries about the economy in third-quarter earnings reports and analysts expect them to set aside more than $4bn to cover potential losses from bad loans. Mentioned in this podcast: US banks to set aside $4bn for potential losses from bad loans Bank of England warns of ‘fire sale’ risk as it widens government bond purchases The ...
Oct 12, 2022•9 min
Britain’s largest global law firms are struggling to attract and retain staff in the US after the sterling’s drop in value, and the European Commission’s vice-president warned the Federal Reserve’s interest rate rises could lead to a global recession. Plus, the FT’s Taylor Nicole Rogers reports that higher mortgage rates are weighing on the US property industry. Mentioned in this podcast: Sterling slump threatens US expansion plans of 'magic circle' law firms Fed-led dash for higher rates risks ...
Oct 11, 2022•10 min
The US and Germany are leading calls to overhaul the World Bank to better address climate change, ships carrying Ukrainian grain are stuck in a Black Sea backlog, and protesters in Iran are moved by a viral song that was inspired by their social media posts. Plus, the FT’s Rana Foroohar tells us about American farmers’ efforts to survive in a post-globalisation world. Mentioned in this podcast: Reinventing farming and food post-globalisation Backlog of ships strains Ukraine-Russia Black Sea expo...
Oct 10, 2022•10 min
This weekend, we discuss Industry on HBO with chief features writer Henry Mance. The show is part of a trend: like Succession and Euphoria , it depicts a pretty harsh version of the world we live in. So why do we keep getting sucked in? Then you'll hear a conversation between star psychologist Esther Perel and FT contributing editor Lucy Kellaway from the FT Weekend Festival. They discuss how remote work might change us, whether TikTok is teaching kids to be anxious, and more. Listen wherever yo...
Oct 08, 2022•30 min
The pace of US job growth is expected to have cooled in September, Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive in the southern part of their country, and China keeps trying to pick off Taiwan’s allies. Mentioned in this podcast: US jobs growth expected to have cooled in August Russian troops retreat from front lines in southern Ukraine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updates Paraguay calls for Taiwan to invest $1bn to remain allies The FT News Briefing is produced by Fio...
Oct 07, 2022•10 min
Opec+ is cutting oil output to prop up prices, the FT and Nikkei ranked the most popular US cities among foreign businesses, and this week’s Rachman Review podcast focuses on the massive protests in Iran. Mentioned in this podcast: Opec+ agrees to cut output by 2mn barrels a day Miami tops FT-Nikkei ranking of best US cities for foreign businesses Rachman Review podcast The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional h...
Oct 06, 2022•10 min
Elon Musk is offering to follow through on his deal to buy Twitter, Russians are fleeing the country after Putin announced a conscription army, and the FT’s Ed White explains why China is having trouble transitioning to a new growth model. Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk proposes buying Twitter for originally agreed $44bn Desperate Russians fleeing Putin’s war draft stream into Kazakhstan China after the property boom: can it rebuild the growth model? The FT News Briefing is produced by Fio...
Oct 05, 2022•10 min
The UK government reversed course on a tax cut, Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro defied expectations in the first round of election voting, and Credit Suisse is trying to reassure investors that rumours about its financial health are overblown. Plus, the FT’s James Kynge tells us how China’s property market crash is hurting local governments. Mentioned in this podcast: Pound and gilts gain after Truss changes course on 45p tax rate cut Jair Bolsonaro’s ‘beef, bible and bullets’ coalition is her...
Oct 04, 2022•11 min
Opec+ is planning to cut oil production, and Tories are in Birmingham for their annual party conference while demonstrations against the cost of living crisis spread across the UK. Plus the FT’s Peggy Hollinger tells us what the US space agency Nasa is planning to do once the International Space Station is decommissioned. Mentioned in this podcast: Kwarteng prepares to defend tax cuts as Tory rebellion mounts Liz Truss admit mistakes but sticks to controversial tax cuts plan The race to reinvent...
Oct 03, 2022•9 min
Writer Jamaica Kincaid is one of the best known writers on race and colonialism in the US. Her writing is biting and fearless, and she’s been a keen observer of her native Antigua and the US since publishing her first essay in 1973. This week she joins Lilah together with the FT’s Enuma Okoro in a recording made at the recent FT Weekend Festival in London. Then we share some conversations we had in person with listeners during the festival. ------- Here’s the link to leave us a message for our l...
Oct 01, 2022•27 min
Russia plans to annex four regions of Ukraine today, turmoil in UK markets is spilling over on to global bond markets, and Germany announced a €200bn aid package to lower energy prices. Mentioned in this podcast: Russia to annex four Ukrainian regions Global stocks and bond prices fall after gains in previous session Germany deploys ‘economic clout’ with €200bn energy aid package The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Ad...
Sep 30, 2022•10 min
The UK's tax cutting plan is a political liability, the EU announced another round of Russian sanctions, and Brazil is days away from a monumental presidential election. Mentioned in this podcast: Tory MPs question Kwasi Kwarteng’s future as market turmoil continues Brazil’s election and the search for an economic revival Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters reject bad news from Brazil election polls ‘It cannot be the madness that it is today’: what’s next for Petrobras? The FT News Briefing is produced ...
Sep 29, 2022•10 min
The IMF is criticising the UK’s tax cut plan, the US is pressing EU countries to speed up and increase the financial support for Ukraine, and the head of crypto lender Celsius Network resigned on Tuesday. Plus, officials in Europe say suspicious leaks on two Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea are likely the result of sabotage. Mentioned in this podcast: IMF urges UK to ‘revaluate’ tax cuts in biting attack on fiscal plan US presses EU to speed up financial aid to Ukraine Denmark, Germany an...
Sep 28, 2022•9 min
China’s economic output will lag behind the rest of Asia for the first time since 1990, according to new World Bank forecasts, the Bank of England failed to reassure markets as the pound continued tumbling and the US is trying to boost access to uncensored internet in Iran. Plus, the FT’s Amy Kazmin explains why Italy chose a far-right government to lead the country in Sunday’s snap election Mentioned in this podcast: China growth falls behind rest of Asia for first time since 1990 Giorgia Melon...
Sep 27, 2022•11 min
UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has vowed to double down on his controversial tax-cutting drive despite investor jitters, at least 41 people have died in protests in Iran sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for allegedly violating Islamic dress code. Plus, the FT’s Polina Ivanova explains how Russia’s military conscription is affecting remote regions of the country. Mentioned in this podcast: Radical UK budget prompts backlash on Tory backbenches Investors warn Kwarteng that fisc...
Sep 26, 2022•10 min
NFTs were a big sensation, but the market for them has crashed. This week, we invited a crypto-sceptic, FT columnist Jemima Kelly, to answer all the questions you were afraid to ask . What are NFTs exactly? What happened with them? And have they changed the way we think about art? Jemima hosts the latest season of our FT podcast Tech Tonic, which is all about the cult of crypto. ------- Want to stay in touch? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweek...
Sep 24, 2022•19 min
Several EU member states are pushing for hard-hitting measures against Russia and a UN policy memorandum argues Pakistan should suspend international debt repayments. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains why the Bank of Japan would keep interest rates in negative territory and prop up the yen. Mentioned in this podcast: Poland and Baltic states push for harsher EU sanctions against Russia Flood-hit Pakistan should suspend debt repayments, says UN policy paper Japan intervenes to prop up yen for ...
Sep 23, 2022•10 min
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage points for the third time in a row on Wednesday, and Credit Suisse has drawn up plans to split its investment bank in three. Plus, the FT’s Hannah Murphy explains how companies, and the negotiators they hire, deal with a ransomware attack. Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell refuses to rule out US recession after third 0.75% rate rise The ransomware game: test your skills in the world of hackers and negotiators Credit Su...
Sep 22, 2022•11 min
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by 0.75 per cent today, Goldman Sachs is expanding its transaction banking business in Europe, and former Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick has tried to keep his new “dark kitchens” venture as secretive as possible. Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve set to raise benchmark interest rate Goldman Sachs hunts new revenues in EU transaction banking push Travis Kalanick expands ‘dark kitchens’ venture across Latin America Microsoft in...
Sep 21, 2022•9 min
Two Turkish banks have halted the use of Russia's payment system, two global energy agencies estimate it would cost $1tn to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change, and pension funds in Europe and Australia pressured asset manager Federated Hermes to stop sponsoring a group of US officials who oppose action on climate change. Plus, Swamp Notes columnists Ed Luce and Rana Foroohar discuss what’s behind the US Democratic party’s rebound heading towards midterm elections. Mentioned in this...
Sep 20, 2022•10 min
Markets are increasingly betting on policymakers raising borrowing costs higher and faster, an FT-IGM survey shows economists expect the US central bank will lift its benchmark policy rate above 4 per cent and hold it there beyond 2023, and the market downturn has sparked the longest tech IPO drought in more than 20 years. Plus, the FT’s Kadhim Shubber talks about his investigation into the fall of high flying cryptocurrency lender Celsius Network. Mentioned in this podcast: Central banks set to...
Sep 19, 2022•10 min
This week we discuss how young people view the late Queen Elizabeth with journalist Imogen West-Knights and our own producer Lulu Smyth. For many Millennials and Gen Zers, the first royal succession in 70 years is also the first time they’ve considered their stance on the monarchy more broadly. And it’s eliciting some mixed feelings. Then, we explore how we’re spending money on culture now. The FT’s US business editor Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson explains all the ways our post-pandemic restlessness...
Sep 17, 2022•28 min
China’s local government financing vehicles are bailing out cities and provinces that are struggling for cash, and UK prime minister Liz Truss is making a last-ditch effort to convince SoftBank to list its British chip maker, Arm, in the UK. Plus, the FT’s global business columnist Rana Foroohar argues that America’s wealthiest are making bad inflation worse. Mentioned in this podcast China’s local government financing vehicles go on land buying spree Liz Truss prepares fresh bid to persuade Sof...
Sep 16, 2022•10 min
The US and EU are concerned that Russia can use Turkish banks to evade financial sanctions, Porsche tries to catch up to Ferrari with an initial public offering of its own, plus, the FT’s Latin America editor Michael Stott talks about record migration throughout the Americas. Mentioned in this podcast: US and EU step up pressure on Turkey over Russia sanctions Porsche IPO: the race to catch Ferrari Repression and poverty trigger record migration crisis in the Americas Rachman Review podcast The ...
Sep 15, 2022•9 min
A worse than expected US inflation report triggered a Wall Street sell-off, Twitter whistleblower Peiter Zatko testified in front of a US Senate committee about alleged security lapses at the social media site, and the US is struggling to put together an alliance to address computer chip supply chain issues. Mentioned in this podcast: Rising inflation sparks fears of hard landing for US economy US stocks slide after ‘hotter’ than expected inflation reading Whistleblower accuses Twitter of puttin...
Sep 14, 2022•9 min
US inflation is expected to have eased due to falling energy prices and Ukraine has regained momentum fighting back the Russian invasion. Plus, Ruchir Sharma tells us why he thinks the dollar may not be the world’s dominant currency for much longer. Mentioned in this podcast: Pace of US consumer price growth expected to have eased in August A post-dollar world is coming Ukraine’s defence minister warns of Russian counter-attack The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Ma...
Sep 13, 2022•9 min
