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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Today's briefing delves into the approved agreement to split TikTok's U.S. operations from ByteDance, with Oracle, Silverlake, and MGX taking significant control. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz advocates for using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's military efforts, influenced by Russian incursions and concerns over US commitment. The episode also reports on Nicolas Sarkozy's five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy and Argentina's recent market stabilization following news of potential US financial aid, though long-term challenges remain for President Milei.
This episode of the FT News Briefing explores several critical financial and economic topics. It begins with BNP Paribas's decision to relax its controversial weapons policy to capitalize on Europe's rearmament push. The discussion then shifts to growing concerns among US debt investors regarding lax lending standards, exemplified by recent corporate collapses and the implications for non-bank lending. Additionally, the podcast examines Italy's dilemma over freezing its retirement age and its potential strain on national finances, concluding with Hong Kong and Singapore's ambitious plans to establish themselves as major global gold trading hubs.
The FT News Briefing reports on Eli Lilly's strong criticism of the UK's drug pricing policies, warning of missed new drug opportunities. It then delves into Donald Trump's contentious speech at the UN General Assembly, examining his changed foreign policy stance and the financial strain his administration places on the UN. The episode also provides an overview of OECD's economic predictions for US interest rate cuts and anticipated high inflation in the UK. Finally, it explores how many major US companies are embracing artificial intelligence due to FOMO, yet struggle to articulate the tangible business benefits or specific implementation strategies.
Today's FT News Briefing details NVIDIA's substantial $100bn investment in OpenAI, which is set to boost AI data centers. Oracle announced a significant leadership restructuring, splitting its CEO role, and will also play a crucial part in the TikTok US business spin-off. The episode also explores the US offer of financial support to Argentina amidst severe market volatility and the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration's increased H-1B visa fees on India's vital IT sector and US-India relations.
US companies may have to pay billions in new fees to hire foreign workers, and US tech groups are losing a political battle in Brussels to gain access to the EU’s financial data market. Plus, the UK joined Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state on Sunday, and a Chinese retail giant is facing some growing pains on its European expansion plans. Mentioned in this podcast: Trump’s H-1B visa fee to hit US employers with $14bn annual bill EU to block Big Tech from new financial data s...
Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing is set to be named as a defendant in legal proceedings, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump did their best to present a united front, and the Bank of England kept interest rates steady. Plus, Nvidia has agreed to invest $5bn in its struggling rival Intel. Mentioned in this podcast: Deutsche Bank chief Christian Sewing set to face multimillion-pound lawsuit Trump and Starmer at Chequers as it happened: leaders present uni...
This episode details the Federal Reserve's decision to lower interest rates, marking the first cut of the year, driven by a cooling labor market despite inflation concerns. It also explores China's ban on NVIDIA's AI chips, a strategic move to boost its domestic tech industry and reduce reliance on foreign technology. Furthermore, the discussion highlights the unique investment strategy of the Swiss National Bank, which has become a significant investor in US tech stocks to manage the strength of the Swiss franc, and touches on President Trump's state visit to the UK.
Today's FT News Briefing discusses significant global developments. The UK and US are strengthening cooperation on digital asset regulations, while Israel has launched a ground invasion into Gaza City, leading to a UN commission alleging genocide and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Elsewhere, former ECB president Mario Draghi criticized the EU's economic competitiveness. Finally, the Trump administration is enacting changes that shift power away from shareholders and towards company executives, potentially impacting investment.
Lisa Cook can remain a Federal Reserve governor for now, the US and China seem to be making progress in their trade talks, and the US and UK promised to boost financial ties ahead of a state visit by President Donald Trump. Plus, Gen Z is toppling governments across Asia. Mentioned in this podcast: Lisa Cook can stay at Fed ahead of rates decision, appeals court rules UK and US pledge to boost financial ties ahead of Trump state visit Donald Trump signals US and China have struck TikTok deal The...
Borrowing costs for the French government are outpacing some French corporations, and the threats to Turkey’s leading opposition party may be part of a wider push to change the country’s democracy. Plus, Chinese export controls on Germanium are forcing defence firms to seek new suppliers, and the failure of a little-known US car lender may spell trouble for the wider banking sector. Mentioned in this podcast: French companies’ borrowing costs fall below government’s as debt fears intensify Is th...
Brazil’s supreme court has voted to convict former president Jair Bolsonaro for plotting a coup d’état, conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing led to calls on the right for retribution, and US inflation data confirm the Fed’s dual-mandate conundrum. Plus, shares in bitcoin-hoarding companies have tumbled in recent weeks as investors grow increasingly concerned about an overcrowded market. Mentioned in this podcast: Brazil’s supreme court finds former leader Jair Bolsonaro guilty of plottin...
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, military analysts are worried about Nato’s response to a Russian drone attack, and US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre. Plus, investors have raised a record amount this year off “Bowie bonds”. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead in Utah What is Vladimir Putin’s game plan against Nato’s eastern flank? Merck slams UK as it scraps £1bn London drug research centre ‘Bowie bonds’ go ma...
US annual jobs numbers get a revision, and Israel is intensifying its fight against Hamas. Plus, there’s a brand new copper mining conglomerate, and South Korean companies have been cutting corners to bring workers to the US. Mentioned in this podcast: US hiring growth revised down by 911,000 jobs in year to March Israel launches attack on Hamas in Qatar Anglo American and Tech Resources to create $50bn mining giant Korean companies admit cutting corners on US visas but say they have little choi...
Rupert Murdoch has resolved the bitter dispute over his sprawling media empire, France is once again without a prime minister, and US bank PNC has agreed to buy smaller peer FirstBank. Plus, North Cyprus is betting big on casinos to boost its economy. Mentioned in this podcast: Murdoch seals $3.3bn succession deal to hand empire to eldest son Macron scouts for new prime minister to quell turmoil PNC to buy Colorado’s FirstBank for $4.1bn North Cyprus casino plans stoke fears of slide towards ‘da...
The French government is on the brink of another collapse, and Japan’s prime minister quits after just a year in office. Plus, China may open its domestic bond market to Russian companies for the first time since 2022, and US economic data is complicating the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates. Mentioned in this podcast: French PM François Bayrou on the brink in crucial confidence vote Japan’s prime minister quits to make way for new leader China paves way for renminbi fundrai...
US President Donald Trump’s nominee to join the Federal Reserve has vowed to uphold central bank independence, bond traders are banking on revenue from Trump’s tariffs to bolster US public finances, and Nasdaq is trying to combat a number of suspected “pump and dump” scams. Plus, the “Amazon of Africa”, Jumia, is still trying to prove that it can be a profitable business after six years on the public market. Mentioned in this podcast: Stephen Miran vows to uphold Fed independence but says Donald...
Lloyds Banking Group will put thousands of its staff at risk of dismissal, and Indonesians are angered over the widening inequality in their country. Plus, MEPs in the European parliament are unhappy with the EU-US trade deal, and the FT’s John Foley explains what artificial intelligence has to do with the outcome of Google’s antitrust case. Mentioned in this podcast: Thousands of Lloyds staff face axe in performance overhaul European parliamentarians attack EU-US trade deal and demand changes G...
A sell-off in government bonds spilled into the equity market as stocks fell on Tuesday, and Eurozone inflation ticked up to 2.1 per cent in August. Plus, European banks are intensifying their calls for regulators to remove obstacles to cross-border banking services in the EU. Mentioned in this podcast: European banks push for lower cross-border hurdles US stocks fall as bond sell-off spills into equities Eurozone inflation rises to 2.1% in August Pound falls as UK long-term borrowing costs hit ...
Israeli banks pressed to give back war profits to customers, Russia denies GPS jamming of an European commission jet, and Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi takes on Tesla and Apple. Plus the trial of a former Brazilian president is coming to a close. Mentioned in this podcast: Ursula von der Leyen’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS interference Israeli banks plan giveaways after anger over wartime profits The Chinese gadget maker taking on Tesla and Apple Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Jos...
The leaders of China and India met on Sunday amid trade tensions with the US, and Guyanese voters head to the polls today to chart a future for the world’s newest petrostate. Plus, the UK secures its largest ever warship deal with Norway, and AstraZeneca’s China division has recovered from a major scandal by pledging billions in new investment. Mentioned in this podcast: Xi and Modi say they are ‘partners not rivals’ in bid to repair ties World’s newest petrostate heads for ‘mother of all electi...
Some World Trade Organization members are preparing to unveil a new grouping to boost “trade openness”, and the FT’s Katie Martin unpacks the lack of market moves after Nvidia’s outlook. Plus, a four-month “ninja stealth rally” has driven Tokyo’s equity market to record highs. Mentioned in this podcast: Singapore, UAE and other small nations to launch trade partnership Nvidia growth outlook hit by China uncertainty Japan’s ‘ninja stealth rally’ draws in global investors Listen to the Swamp Notes...
Nvidia’s earnings report signalled solid growth, cryptocurrencies are taking a hold of Venezuela’s economy, and more than half of the UK’s biggest listed companies chose external candidates as their new chief executive. Plus, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son has become an unofficial diplomat between Washington and Tokyo. Mentioned in this podcast: Nvidia revenue jumps 56% on robust AI demand How SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son became Donald Trump’s favoured foreign investor Crypto goes mainstream in Venezuela ...
This briefing covers global economic and political uncertainties, starting with concerns over Donald Trump's attempt to fire a Federal Reserve governor and its implications for central bank independence and market stability. It then details the US offer of intelligence and air support for a post-war security plan in Ukraine, marking a significant policy shift. Finally, the episode examines the sell-off in French assets as investors react to the prospect of a government collapse triggered by Prime Minister François Bayrou's highly unpopular budget.
US President Donald Trump said he was firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, shares in Ørsted plunged after the Trump administration halted one of the Danish wind farm developer’s almost-completed projects, and Elon Musk’s xAI has sued Apple and OpenAI alleging they broke antitrust rules. Plus, Germany’s government is encouraging young people to invest in the stock market rather than rely on the country’s flailing pension programme. Mentioned in this podcast: Trump says he is firing Fed gove...
Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell indicated a shift towards lowering interest rates, prompting market bets on a September cut, driven by concerns over the labor market and a view on tariffs' transitory impact. Meanwhile, European venture capitalists are investing heavily in new air defense technologies, inspired by Israel's Iron Dome and the Ukraine conflict. Spanish bank Santander is also making a strategic play on Wall Street by embracing the SPAC market, leveraging key hires and a unique fee structure to gain a foothold.
EU officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro, and the US Department of Justice has called for Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to be removed from her post. Plus, investors lost billions of dollars in July in what could be pump and dump stock scams. Mentioned in this podcast: EU speeds up plans for digital euro after US passes stablecoin law Justice department calls on Federal Reserve to sack governor Lisa Cook ‘I almost fell off my chair’: Investors lose billions on meme stocks as ‘p...
Chinese regulators are pushing back against US AI chips, Target shares fell more than 6 per cent after the retail group picked an insider to be its new chief executive, and UK inflation accelerated more than expected to 3.8 per cent in July. Plus, China is making a big push for vehicle battery swapping. Mentioned in this podcast: Beijing turns against Nvidia’s AI chip after ‘insulting’ Lutnick remarks Target shares drop as retailer picks insider to lead turnaround drive UK inflation rises more t...
US tech stocks sold off on Tuesday, and Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell will be between a rock and a hard place when he delivers his speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium this Friday. Plus, Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk has fallen behind its rivals. Does it have a plan to catch up? Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell to deliver Jackson Hole address under fire on multiple fronts US tech stocks hit by wave of concerns over future of AI boom How Novo Nordisk lost its lead in the weig...
US President Donald Trump floated the prospect of US security guarantees for Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is looking for options after India got hit by extremely high US tariffs, Soho House has agreed to a take-private deal, and Softbank is buying $2bn worth of Intel shares. Plus, the FT’s Leila Abboud explains why more Italian bonds are starting to look a little more like French bonds. Mentioned in this podcast: Trump floats US security guarantees for Ukraine in meeting with Zelenskyy ...
US President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today, just days after meeting Russian President Putin, and the UK’s solar output is reaching record levels. Plus, tech companies are spending trillions to build AI data centers. Mentioned in this podcast: ‘Absolutely immense’: the companies on the hook for the $3tn AI building boom Putin demanded Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk in exchange for freezing rest of front line Volodymyr Zelenskyy to press for ceasefire at Donald ...
