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.
Episodes
A look at the alleged spy who had an affair with Nvidia’s CEO
Anthropic is targeting a valuation of $1.4tn in its initial public offering, stronger than expected inflation data sparked fresh bets that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates next month, and France is pressing Germany to define how it would use long-range missiles in the event of a conflict with Russia. Plus, we take a microscope to Alice Huang, the woman who US officials believe is a
The fallout of Nvidia’s spying scandal
Nvidia shares tumbled after the company’s board said it would investigate reports that chief executive Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign espionage operation, investors are buying up stocks they believe can protect them in a market downturn, and BT will not launch its partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink. Plus, the FT sat down with Britain’s defence secretary Wes Streeting to discuss UK-Rus
Nvidia CEO admits to affair after allegations of relationship with Chinese spy
Nvidia is investigating whether chief executive Jensen Huang was “the target of a foreign intelligence effort,” Israel’s president has formally given Gadi Eisenkot the first chance at forming a new government, and the FT’s Chris Giles sat down with Klaas Knot, who is vying for the top job at the European Central Bank. Plus, foreign buyers are snapping up British companies, and a Dutch start-up fou
Martin Wolf on the US midterms: What will the Democrats do next?
Americans roundly rejected the Republican Party under President Donald Trump at the ballot box, giving the Democratic Party control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. That means Democrats have a raft of new tools with which to oppose Trump, including control of investigative committees the party may use to look into alleged corruption. How should the Democrats use that power? Doe
Why investors soured on the Democrats
US tech stocks plunged over worries that the blue wave could slow down the AI boom, and the FT’s Joe Miller explains what stance a Democratic Congress may take towards AI. Plus, the UK government is preparing to extend Palantir’s controversial £330mn health contract, Paraguay’s president Santiago Peña has resigned after the collapse of a big digital bank, and the Bank of England raised interest ra
How will the Democrats’ sweep shape policy and markets?
Washington will have trouble getting things done with a gridlocked government after this week’s midterm elections, but it’s hard to tell whether US President Donald Trump will use the defeat as a chance to soften his foreign policy stance. Plus, investors are feeling optimistic about a return to normalcy following Democrats’ massive victory, and Russia agreed to supply Iran with 90 launchers for a
The Democrats’ moment of truth
The Democrats score massive wins in the US midterm elections, bond investors are feeling optimistic about the make-up of the next Congress, and Qatar’s state-owned energy company is on track to become the world’s biggest buyer of US liquefied natural gas by early next decade. Plus, a massive fraud scandal in Turkey is starting to weigh on the country’s economy.Mentioned in this podcast:Live US mid
Judgement day for Trump’s Republican Party
US voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide which party controls Congress and the FT’s James Politi breaks down the key Senate races to watch. Plus, oil investors and executives clash over future of Iran war.Mentioned in this podcast:US midterm elections 2026: The FT’s guideBig majority of US voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation: FT pollDonald Trump’s imperial presidency faces a po
The Gulf braces for new strikes against Iran
A Democratic-controlled Congress may struggle to ease cost of living pressures and Middle East diplomats warn that renewed conflict between the US and Iran would be even more damaging than previous rounds of fighting. Serbia shuts down a bank favoured by Russians as it enters a new political era. Plus, Binance has started letting customers withdraw funds after the world's biggest crypto exchan
Martin Wolf on the US midterms: What’s the risk of political violence?
As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the third of a six-part series, Martin speaks to political scientist and author Barbara F Walter, an expert on civil wars and political violence, about the risk of unre
Alphabet’s brutal day on the stock market
Alphabet’s share price fell just over 12 percent on Thursday, and UK startup Nscale is banking on a troubled US data centre project to underpin its planned $35bn IPO. Plus, we look at what’s next for the ECB now that its president Christine Lagarde announced she’s stepping down.Mentioned in this podcast:Alphabet shares tumble in $500bn routInside the make-or-break AI mega-project behind Nscale’s $
The winners and losers in the UK Budget
Chancellor John Healey has targeted banks, savers and property owners in his Autumn Budget, Benjamin Netanyahu holds the lead in Israel’s election but there’s no clear winner yet, and one of the oldest American law firms told partners that it should dissolve. Plus, the Federal Reserve kept US borrowing costs on hold days before midterm elections, and Google shares fell sharply after boosting its s
What a local ceasefire means for the Russia-Ukraine war
Washington and Moscow are discussing a potential return by American companies to the Russian oil market as a localised ceasefire begins in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, exit polls suggest there’s no clear winner in the Israel elections, and Brazil’s president is facing down a fiscal reckoning after winning re-election. Plus, China AI stocks are in a bear market, and UK chancellor John Healey will
Anthropic details ‘existential risks to humanity’ in IPO filing
Anthropic has unveiled its long-awaited listing prospectus, Israelis have begun voting in an election that many regard as the most important in the country’s near-80-year history, and Donald Trump Jr went on a hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked oligarch. Plus, European holidaymakers are flying to South America.Mentioned in this podcast:Anthropic begins countdown to IPO with prospectus filing‘Bold
Update: Lula pulls off election win in Brazil
The leftwinger’s victory comes after a loss in the first election round. Meanwhile, US voters are worried about corruption under the Trump administration a week ahead of the crucial midterm elections. Plus, a top Deloitte boss got a big pay bump last year as the consultancy cut jobs, Toyota is entering the humanoid robot race and Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado
Serbia’s strongman leader voted out
Serbia’s former president Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday. Meanwhile, US voters are worried about corruption under the Trump administration a week ahead of the crucial midterm elections. Plus, a top Deloitte boss got a big pay bump last year as the consultancy cut jobs, Toyota is entering the humanoid robot race, and Venezuelan opposition leader a
The Bethlehem Project: Voters feel anxious and uncertain as US midterms near
The FT sat down with more than a dozen voters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, ahead of next week’s midterm elections. The roundtable discussion showed that some are staunch supporters of President Donald Trump and some feel a bit more on the fence. But it seems almost all of them feel unsure about the direction of the nation. The FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi tells Sonja Hutson what he lea
Martin Wolf on the US midterms: What’s at stake for the world?
As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the second of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Anne Applebaum abou
US prepared for protracted stalemate with Iran
Global stocks sold off as AI spending fears flare up, Brazilians will vote this weekend in a close presidential race, and the US is prepared for a lengthy stalemate in the war with Iran. Plus, how banks are reacting to a potential tax rise from UK chancellor John Healey, and why are western pharmaceutical companies heading to China?Mentioned in this podcast:Meta sell-off drags US tech stocks lower
Elon Musk’s $3.6tn gamble to merge SpaceX and Tesla
Meta plans to create a new class of non-voting shares, Mathias Döpfner, chief executive and co-owner of Germany’s Axel Springer, has sought to acquire a stake in TikTok’s European operations, and US envoy Steve Witkoff discussed resuming peace talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine. Plus, can Elon Musk pull off a merger of SpaceX and Tesla?Mentioned in this podcast:Meta to create new non-voting
Israel pushes to restart strikes against Iran
The leaders of Ukraine, Finland and Norway hailed progress in talks in Oslo on Tuesday, SpaceX and Tesla are studying a merger, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to restart large-scale strikes on Iran. Plus, UK gilts are catching back up with their peers after a sharp sell-off earlier this year.Mentioned in this podcast:Finnish president hails progress in talks about ending
Can Big Tech calm investors' AI jitters?
Protests across Europe over the high cost of living have turned increasingly disruptive, investors are racing to buy credit default swaps to protect their portfolios in the event the AI boom unravels, and Big Tech starts releasing their earnings reports this week. Plus, India’s second-richest man will try to pull off the country’s biggest initial public offering and Saudi Arabia has postponed its
French government in crisis mode after a weekend of riots
France is reeling after "unprecedented" violent riots, America’s debt-laden $10tn AI infrastructure boom is a reckoning for the data centre build-out underpinning the US economy, and Albertans gear up to vote today on whether to leave Canada.Mentioned in this podcast:France reels after ‘unprecedented’ violent riotsMacron faces political firestorm after riots‘The Switzerland of North Amer
Martin Wolf on the US midterms: Is American democracy safe?
As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the first of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to the scholar and former Republican adviser Robert Kagan, who has
Investors fret over AI debt
UK Chancellor John Healey has dropped his strongest hint yet of higher taxes on banks, and Anthropic secured a credit rating one notch below investment grade earlier this year. Plus, investors are losing confidence that revenues from the AI boom will be sufficient to support the vast debt piles financing data centres.Mentioned in this podcast:Healey signals Budget bank tax raidAnthropic secured hi
Zelenskyy doesn’t mince words about Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized US President Donald Trump in an interview with the FT, US inflation jumped to 3.7% and leaked emails reveal that Freshfields law firm considered a carve-out of itsAI unit that would be worth billions. Plus, leading AI labs are responding to the alleged bugging incident at OpenAI and salmon producers are changing up the diet for their fish.Mentione
France’s Marine Le Pen readies for fight with EU
France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen is gearing up for a fight with the EU if elected president next year, investors in Accenture cannot decide if AI will be an existential threat or an incredible boost, CoreWeave is chasing insurers’ vast pools of capital, and the US Treasury has fined Bank of America more than $1bn for “egregious and continued” money laundering and sanctions violations. Plus,
An election supercycle could push Europe to the right
The IMF is warning that the world’s leading economies need to take “urgent” action to rebuild their public finances, Pakistan is stuck in a tricky place as its ally Saudi Arabia fights off the Houthis, and Mark Zuckerberg says Meta has caught up with rivals at the “frontier” of AI. Plus, a number of elections in Europe could fundamentally shift the EU, and the UK has imposed new sanctions on Iran
Houthis attack Riyadh airport
The Iran-backed Houthis have struck Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia multiple times this week, US president Donald Trump claims an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, and AI companies are pulling back new debt issuance. Plus, US bank earnings this week suggest the good times may be over.Mentioned in this podcast:US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineriesUkra
SoftBank wants Gulf money to expand AI bet
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to raise as much as $100bn from Gulf investors to further his massive bet on AI, the Flydubai co-pilot who tried to hijack a flight to Tel Aviv expressed misogynistic views online, and Donald Trump has said Washington will not strike Iran ahead of the US midterm elections. Plus, two Latvian men allegedly trespassed at a UK military base, and two crypto gro
Oil companies are full speed ahead in the Middle East
Oil executives expressed their appetite for investing in the Middle East despite the war, the conflict has blown a near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances, and big investors are “bottom fishing” among beaten-down assets, including Italian bonds and corporate debt. Plus, China is building data centres at rapid speed across Inner Mongolia and a measure of credit risk at Elon Musk’s SpaceX rose
Skydance’s debt pile takes the spotlight
Paramount Skydance is tackling a huge pile of debt following its takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, oil tanker captains are being paid rates equivalent to $100,000 a month for travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, and the UK’s tax authorities probed Manchester City in 2018. Plus, the battle for control of the $265bn Tata Group hinges on India’s motorbike billionaire, and Brussels is considering
The bond sell-off comes for corporate America
A sharp rise in US government borrowing costs this year is bleeding into the corporate debt market and Hong Kong’s de facto central bank questioned HSBC on why its new AI hub would be established in Singapore. Plus, Brazil’s currency, stocks and bonds jumped after rightwing presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro won a first-round victory, and insurers are preparing for multimillion-dollar claims
The Tories go back to basics
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will solidify her role at the head of the party during this week’s conference, and corporate dealmaking was on the decline last quarter after the collapse of mega-deals. Plus, Estonia is moving troops to its border with Russia and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government supports aggressive settler expansion in the run-up to the country’s elections.Mentione
Unhedged: An ode to stock picking
We're bringing you a recent episode from our fellow FT podcast, Unhedged.Over the summer, the FT held a revamped version of its stock picking game – think fantasy football for the global equity markets. Some 13,000 people took part – a shocking number considering how unfashionable active fund management has become in the real world. Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong invite their FT Money colleagu
Zelenskyy says Putin’s gloves are off
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government is searching for a British alternative to Palantir, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his military leaders to abandon the rules of war, according to intelligence intercepted by Kyiv. Plus, Eurozone borrowing costs surged, and Brazil’s election pits the leftwing incumbent against a rightwing former president’s son.Mentioned in this podca
US Big Tech gets the most facetime with EU
One pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft. An FT analysis reveals US Big Tech companies have an outsized influence in Brussels. Plus, RSM, one of the world’s largest accounting firms, is exploring a possible initial public offering, and Nike is struggling to compete in China.Mentioned in this podcast:What we know about the Flydubai flight to
Trump shrugs off AI regulation
UK businesses react to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s speech to the Labour conference, US and French bonds are in hot water, and could an American ban on diesel exports backfire? Plus, US President Donald Trump has dismissed calls for stricter AI regulation, in a show of dominance over tech executives who he summoned to the White House.Mentioned in this podcast:UK bosses left in dark by Burnham and
Nvidia turns to insurers to offset AI risks
UK chancellor John Healey has told the Labour Party conference that the economic conditions enjoyed by New Labour are “simply not there now”, Nvidia has held talks with insurance companies about shouldering the risks of lending against its chips, and oil prices and US Treasuries are locked in their tightest relationship since the first Gulf war in 1990. Plus, an oil field project in the Falkland I
Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as prime minister
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham returns to the Labour conference to sell his vision, EU countries are considering a Nato-style joint response to Russia’s hybrid war, and foreign investors have been buying up Panama’s debt despite social unrest and threats from US President Donald Trump.Mentioned in this podcast:‘Hope again’: Burnham returns to Labour conference to sell his visionEU countries consid
Bond rout pushes US mortgage rates past 7%
Xi Jinping said the US and China should avoid being drawn into a “conflict” in remarks at the White House, and Brussels has warned Britain needs to raise tariffs on Chinese cars if it wants to avoid barriers that would hit crucial exports. Plus, dozens of foreign officials walked out of the UN General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, and the FT’s Kate Duguid
US Treasury yields soar
US Treasury yields soared on Wednesday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was prepared to negotiate with the US, and the FT’s Sam Fleming explains why the UK budget is in a tight spot. Plus, billions of dollars of Rosneft’s foreign earnings were funnelled through a Kremlin-backed money-laundering network, and Syria’s search for justice for Assad-era crimes could spark more unrest.Ment
Will Trump and Xi extend their trade truce?
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping will discuss a potential extension of their trade war truce this week, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Trump for the first time, and the cost of hiring an oil supertanker has passed $1.2mn a day for the first time on routes between the Middle East and Asia. Plus, billionaire financier Todd Boehly has secured the backing of the US government and Gulf power brokers wit
How a Russian forgery scheme evaded sanctions
Standard Chartered, Citigroup and other international banks have handled billions of dollars from a Kremlin-backed fintech company that tricked its way into the global financial system, and Polymarket is lobbying to win over European financial watchdogs. Plus, Germany’s election might impact the EU’s budget.Mentioned in this podcast:Kremlin-backed forgery scheme moved $6.9bn through global banksPo
Germany’s Merz vows to stay despite ‘disaster’
German chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a crisis of confidence as exit polls show his party missed the threshold for representation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The right-wing Alternative for Germany won there instead. Plus, Volkswagen is getting the boot from the Eurostoxx50 index. And Georgia’s Senator Jon Ossoff attempts to revitalise moderate politics in the upcoming US midterms.Mentioned in this
Reform UK mega-donors stir controversy
The Venezuelan government and the country’s opposition are close to reaching an agreement to transfer the central bank’s gold reserves, critics are scrutinising donations to UK Reform by crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, and Glencore has suspended one of its senior executives in the wake of an escalating scandal. Plus, OpenAI’s listing delay raises stakes for SoftBank’s $50bn
Fed interest rate rises are back
The Federal Reserve has raised rates for the first time since 2023, and the EU has asked China to restrict exports of hybrid cars as part of a deal to prevent a trade war. Plus, AI has revolutionized warfare.Mentioned in this podcast:Federal Reserve defies Donald Trump with first rate rise since 2023EU asks China to voluntarily limit car exportsVon der Leyen to paint EU as the only port in a globa
US billionaires bankroll Republican election push
US and Chinese experts meet to discuss mitigating AI risks despite an ongoing tech rivalry, and US megadonors are largely backing Republicans in this midterm election season. Plus, Prime Minister Mark Carney strikes out on his pitch for a “unique alliance” between Canada and the EU, and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is expected to be Africa’s biggest IPO.Mentioned in this podcast:Can the US and C
What an AI slowdown could mean for investors
Tech stocks fell yesterday as markets reacted to ongoing talk of an AI apocalypse, industrial America is contending with a fresh wave of supply chain inflation, and foreign investors are now buying more US stocks than government bonds. Plus, China has implemented sweeping new controls on overseas travel for Chinese citizens. Mentioned in this podcast:US manufacturers hit by fresh burst of sup
Fed and BoJ expect rate hikes as US bond market flails
US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s interventions in the American bond market haven’t worked so far, but could interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan this week change things? Plus, Russia hit a Ukrainian train line moments after foreign dignitaries transited it, and the FT’s Zehra Munir explains how protesters cancelled a data centre project in Virginia. Mentione
Oil hits $108 ahead of Iran’s meeting with Gulf states
US long-term borrowing costs surged to their highest level in more than two decades, and Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart to negotiate a deal temporarily managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, Brics – the developing world’s answer to the G7 – meets this weekend during a unique moment of opportunity to remake the global order.Mentioned in this podcast:Glo
AI rewrites the venture capital playbook
US government bond yields jumped to their highest level in almost three years, and the Japanese yen has strengthened this week. Plus, the IMF ditched a top candidate for chief economist at the last minute, and AI is writing the playbook for venture capital. Mentioned in this podcast:US Treasury yields jump as plans for $6bn buybacks disappoint investors‘I am the house now’: Bessent warn
DeepSeek mania spawns shadow market
Anthropic declined to submit its latest model to Britain’s AI Security Institute for testing before release, Greece wants to become the next hedge fund hub, and crude prices jumped to nearly $100 a barrel after the US launched fresh strikes on Iranian oil tankers. Plus, as DeepSeek’s valuation climbs to more than $70bn, investors are clamouring to get a piece of the Chinese AI company through a se
Is the global maritime order breaking down?
Chinese tech giant Huawei faces a US racketeering trial. Bankers for Anthropic and OpenAI push for top-tier credit ratings. Plus, the EU signals greater openness to mega mergers.Mentioned in this podcast:Was Huawei’s rise built on crime? A US jury will decideWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing was
A foldable iPhone: John Ternus’s first test as Apple CEO
Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to surge to first place in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, John Ternus faces his first test as Apple CEO, and the US and Ukraine held talks on how to end the conflict with Russia. Plus, defence officials think Europe isn’t deterring Moscow’s “hybrid” war. Mentioned in this podcast:Far-right AfD surges in German state electionsJohn Ternus’s first
Extended chat: Top US trade official defends Trump’s record
US trade representative Jamieson Greer is President Donald Trump’s top trade official. He has played a critical role in negotiations between Washington and its trading partners. This includes recent talks with Canada, whose retaliatory tariffs against the US go into effect later this week. The FT's Aime Williams sat down with Greer for a wide-ranging interview. They covered everything from th
Top US trade official reveals ‘problem’ in UK negotiations
The US trade representative says the UK is choosing the EU over America and Deutsche Bank organised almost $1bn of loans to a Hollywood studio landlord now in default. Plus, Nvidia has agreed to buy AI model platform Hugging Face for $13bn, and a look at how chicken became the world’s favourite protein.Mentioned in this podcast:UK-EU alignment is ‘problem’ for US trade deal, says top Trump officia
Uber teams up with driver unions to fight robotaxis
Auditors warned Guggenheim Partners about weak controls within its business, and Uber is teaming up with driver unions to try to slow the rollout of robotaxis. Plus, US oil major Chevron and Italy’s Eni are boosting investment in oil production in Venezuela.Mentioned in this podcast:KPMG warned Guggenheim unit over deficiencies in internal controlsUber allies with driver unions in bid to slow robo
Russia secretly helping Iran develop supersonic missiles
An FT investigation found Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles, the US launched fresh strikes on Iran, and the global bond sell-off deepened on Tuesday. Plus, AI groups are racing to address the risk that future models could help users create bioweapons. Mentioned in this podcast:Russia secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missilesUS lau
How viable is Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela?
Wall Street banks are pushing large law firms to cut fees because of AI, and analysts say Donald Trump’s Venezuela oil agreement may not succeed in attracting investment from US companies. Plus, London’s Tube is set to finally roll out mobile coverage across its entire network by the end of the year. Mentioned in this podcast:Wall Street banks push Big Law to cut fees because of AICan Donald
AI’s threat to consulting
Soaring demand for natural gas has pushed dealmaking to a decade high, the consulting industry is headed for an AI showdown with its own clients, and the Taliban wants to strike a minerals deal with the US. Plus, it’s Tim Cook’s last day as chief executive of Apple. Mentioned in this podcast:Scramble for gas assets pushes dealmaking to record high Controversial Venezuelan executive
EU policy could ice out closest trading partners
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has replaced the chief executive at one of the country’s flagship real estate mega-projects, and global issuance of zero-interest convertible bonds is on track for a record year. Plus, the EU’s closest economic partners are worried about Brussels’ increasingly protectionist policies, and Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham sought to calm corporate nerves in a
What Meta’s $18bn settlement means for social media
Nvidia reported strong sales, Meta has agreed to pay up to $18bn to settle its blockbuster social media addiction legal battle, and bond investors think that France is Europe’s new problem child. Plus, more than $80bn has been wiped off the value of bitcoin treasury companies since the middle of last year.Mentioned in this podcast:Nvidia sales more than double to $96bn on bumper AI demandMeta to p
The risks of investing $7tn in AI data centres
Traders and analysts are warning oil prices could soon hit $100 a barrel again, Germany is becoming a magnet for international defence groups, and Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 per cent on US imports. Plus, Wall Street is stretching itself to finance massive investment in data centres, and European heatwaves have prompted the continent to look to the Gulf for air-conditionin
US threatens Iran’s economic partners
Scott Bessent said the US would expand the scope of secondary sanctions on Iran, and JPMorgan Chase is relaxing its approach to lending money against shares in companies that have recently gone public. Plus, US private equity growth funds raised a record amount of capital in the first half of this year, and Pakistan’s focus on securing US financing is a big shift after years of relying on state lo
Warsh heads to Jackson Hole as economic worries mount
US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh will seek to soothe investors’ nerves at this week’s Jackson Hole symposium, Andy Burnham is headed to Ukraine for his first overseas trip as Britain’s prime minister, and Saudi Arabia held talks with London brokers for a state-backed war insurance scheme. Plus, we take a deep dive into an investment giant that’s slowly unravelling, and Canada’s prime minister
Why the energy crisis won’t save western oil refineries
Investors have warned that Treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s attempts to slash long-term US borrowing costs are doomed to fail, and European oil refinery capacity is set to shrink by a fifth over the next decade. Plus, Shanghai’s answer to the Nasdaq index is benefiting from an investor frenzy for Chinese technology stocks, and a Chinese court has sentenced Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan to life i
US Treasury tries to soothe the bond market
Shares in vaccine-maker Moderna lept after it reported successful trial results for an experimental cancer vaccine, and the US Treasury department will at least double the size of its buyback of long-term government debt. Plus, top US legal firms are sparking controversy for hiring students in their first few months of law school and Irish pubs are disappearing. Mentioned in this podcast:US T
Borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs
Iran has weighed attacking US military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war, according to people close to the regime. Long-term borrowing costs across major economies hit multi-decade highs, and Revolut has proposed increasing the amount chief executive Nik Storonsky can borrow against his stake in the fintech fivefold. Plus, US President Donald Trump is presiding over an unlikel
Airlines in stand-off over cutting ticket prices
Airlines are locked in a “stand-off” over whether to cut ticket prices, and Mark Carney is making a last ditch bid to avert Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat. Plus, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history and Malaysia has been an unassuming AI winner.Mentioned in this podcast:Mark Carney in last-ditch effort to avoid Donald Trump’s
Private credit’s woes continue
Private credit is under strain as troubled loans swell, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon warned Britain’s chancellor against higher bank taxes, and the cost of shipping through many global maritime chokepoints are hitting record highs. Plus, the US is sitting on a mountain of debt – can anyone fix it? Mentioned in this podcast:Private credit under strain as troubled loans swellJamie Dimon warns UK c
Venezuela demands its gold back from the UK
Leading US AI labs are releasing cheaper models to compete with cut-price alternatives from Chinese rivals. Venezuela’s government and opposition unite to demand $4bn in gold reserves back from the Bank of England. A flood of foreign currency bond issuance by Big Tech groups is shaking up the world’s smaller credit markets. Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is running for a second term amid gr
Anthropic’s anticipated $2tn IPO
Anthropic investors expect the AI start-up to be the largest ever initial public offering, and US inflation edged lower to 3.4 per cent in July as petrol prices declined. Plus, Iranian businesses are increasingly resorting to “buy now, pay later” schemes as the cost of living spirals out of control.Note: This episode of the FT News Briefing has been updated. A segment was removed. Mentioned in thi
US asks Ukraine to stop strikes on tankers using Russian port
Ukraine has halted drone strikes on oil tankers using a critical Black Sea port after a request by the US, suspected Chinese hackers hit Taiwan with an autonomous AI cyber attack, and the head of the Boston Federal Reserve thinks policymakers may be forced to raise rates in September. Plus, measures of volatility in stocks and currencies have tumbled this summer despite the geopolitical uncertaint
Spain’s migrant crisis exposes serious challenges for young Moroccans
Wall Street giants are partnering with Nvidia on a $500bn AI financing deal, the mega-merger between AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb has been put on ice, and queues at some EU airports have doubled because of border checks. Plus, the FT’s Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper explains why Morocco’s economy isn’t helping its young workers. Mentioned in this podcast:Wall Street giants partner with Nvidi
Deadly protests in Kashmir test Pakistan’s government
China is bypassing shipping chokepoints with an “Ice Silk Road” route through the Arctic, dozens of people have been killed in election clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Germany’s economy minister warned that growing support for a far-right political party could deter foreign investors. Plus, we take a look at the bank behind China’s AI listings bonanza, and how the UAE has won over Wa
Crude retreats but fuel prices stay high
Weakened refining capacity in Russia and the Gulf is a boon to US refiners. Plus, the Trump administration’s decision to revoke legal protections for migrants could hurt the US economy, and Google is shifting control of its AI effort from London back to Silicon Valley.Mentioned in this podcast:Refining crunch keeps fuel prices high as crude retreatsGoogle shifts AI power back to Brin as DeepMind’s
How Ukrainian drone expertise is helping Colombian narcos
Iran said it reached an agreement with Oman on a route through the Strait of Hormuz, US Democrats hope to win control of Congress in the midterm elections and scammers are taking advantage of the disruption caused by the EU’s new crypto rules. Plus, the FT’s Joe Daniels explains how Ukrainian drone technology is helping cartels and guerillas in Colombia.Mentioned in this podcast:Iran says it has r
SpaceX outperforms in debut earnings
SpaceX surpassed analysts’ expectations in its debut earnings report, China is hunting for hundreds of billions of dollars in unpaid taxes and power cuts in Tunisia have provoked protests against President Kais Saied. Plus, the rise in US diesel prices is the latest blow to inflation-weary Americans ahead of November’s midterm elections.Mentioned in this podcast:SpaceX posts 92% rise in revenue in
America’s puzzling yen intervention
Novo Nordisk’s CEO checks in on his first year at the helm, and Russia is quietly assembling a "shadow fleet" of ships to circumvent EU sanctions. Plus, we take a deep dive into a historic joint intervention in Japan’s currency.Mentioned in this podcast:‘Arrogance kills’: Novo chief injects risk-taking into Ozempic-makerAstraZeneca investors raise concerns over mega-merger talksRussia expands shad
