FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

The bright side of Bund yields Jan 21, 2022

Show notes

The Federal Reserve has for the first time launched a period of debate of a central bank digital currency, and Luckin Coffee is planning to relist in the US after being delisted following a $300m fraud scandal. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains why we should pay attention to German Bund yields turning positive this week.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Fed opens debate on possible digital currency

Luckin Coffee plots relisting in US two years after $300m fraud

Germany’s 10-year Bund yield turns positive for first time since 2019

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Moscow’s ‘Fortress Russia’ strategy Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

A US Senate committee will begin debating a pair of bills designed to reshape technology regulation, and US banks are gearing up for interest rate rises planned by the Federal Reserve this year. Plus, the FT’s Moscow bureau chief, Max Seddon, explains how Russia has built up its economy to protect itself from sanctions.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US Senate committee to debate legislation targeting Big Tech’s power

Bank of America projects ‘robust’ interest income growth as loans rebound

Moscow’s sanction-proofing efforts weaken western threats

Hong Kong residents hire private jets to take their pets out of isolated city

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Microsoft and Activision’s shared virtual universe Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

The car industry has turned on France’s plan to force manufacturers to attach the equivalent of a public health warning to their advertising, and US telecoms companies will delay their rollout of 5G services near airports. Plus, the FT’s Chris Nuttall, explains why Microsoft’s $75bn deal for Activision Blizzard makes sense.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Carmakers criticise French plan for health warning on adverts

AT&T and Verizon limit 5G service near US airports after airlines’ outcry

Activision leverages itself into metaverse

Patriotic Gen Zs fuel pandemic jewellery boom in China

#techFT newsletter

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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China applies brakes to Africa lending Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

UK inflation is expected to rise to a 30-year high when December’s data are released this week, Meta patent applications indicate how the Silicon Valley group intends to cash in on its virtual world with hyper-targeted advertising and sponsored content, Chinese lenders have grown more cautious about lending to African nations as some have reached the limit of their borrowing capacity and the prospect of defaults loom, and the Scottish government has awarded 25 gigawatts of offshore wind project development rights.

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Mentioned in this podcast:

UK inflation set to hit 30-year high as rate rise expectations mount

Facebook patents indicate how it intends to cash in on the Metaverse

China applies brakes to Africa lending

Big boost to UK offshore wind capacity from Scottish auction

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Bain under fire for enabling South Africa corruption Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Pension cash for British Gas workers was used to buy Israeli cyberweapon developer NSO Group, European sales of electric cars overtook diesel models for first time in December, and the FT’s Southern Africa correspondent Joseph Cotterill discusses Bain’s role in state corruption in South Africa under former president Jacob Zuma.

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Stories mentioned in this podcast:

British Gas pension cash used to buy Israeli spyware group NSO

https://www.ft.com/content/8b427be6-1025-4295-a25c-16374da53b79

European sales of electric cars overtake diesel models for first time

https://www.ft.com/content/f1bdf1cf-8fc3-4b85-a4eb-7df716ebf0a9

Bain & Co, tax and Jacob Zuma: a tale of ‘state capture’ in South Africa

https://www.ft.com/content/b1bb5dd0-e7ce-4e15-ac48-05d2d990f6c7

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

https://www.ft.com/content/eceaec7d-34cd-43ad-96e1-a77f6809e40a

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FT Weekend: Tracey Emin: ‘I want to be a happy ghost’ Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

This week, we’ve got two GOATs – that’s Greatests Of All Time. Legendary artist Tracey Emin is starting an art school and studio compound in Margate, England, the seaside town where she grew up. On the week of her winning the Whitechapel Art Icon Award, we speak to Emin about the legacy she’s building and examine the work that came before, from scandalous installations like “My Bed” to her more contemplative work. Then, the FT’s wine columnist Jancis Robinson teaches us about the world of wine. Robinson was the first non-winemaker to receive the title of Master of Wine from the Institute of Masters of Wine, the world’s most prestigious wine organisation.

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Looking for a discount on an FT subscription? Use this link for special offers specifically for listeners of the show: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast

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Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.

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Links and mentions from the episode:

– Louis Wise’s interview with Tracey Emin for How To Spend It: https://www.ft.com/content/ffd55216-7751-43d3-9ad8-f495cb08d7c7

–Tracey Emin’s video “Why I Never Became a Dancer” (1995): https://www.artforum.com/video/tracey-emin-why-i-never-became-a-dancer-1995-49262

–A free online exhibition of Emin's video works between 1995 and 2017 (Xavier Hufkens): https://www.xavierhufkens.com/exhibitions/video-works-1995-2017

–Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course (Youtube, 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNahwe1nPHc&list=PL0smQshvSba5YYij7-R1HM-HT04woET9A

–Jancis’ latest column, “Bargain Burgundy”: https://www.ft.com/content/c59f4150-b431-4202-b7f3-60fab84ac4fb

–Jancis on the truth about the wine world and diversity (no paywall): https://www.ft.com/content/3dc097fc-dbd8-4248-82e6-69d5acc1b169

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Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner.

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The London-Kazakhstan connection Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

Google says it will spend $1bn to purchase its office building in London, Katie Martin explains why Ken Griffin selling a $1.2bn stake in his Citadel Securities is a big deal, and FT investigation correspondent, Tom Burgis, describes a British industry that caters to global elites who want to hide their wealth and manage their reputations.

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Mentioned in this podcast:

Google bets on return to office with $1bn purchase of London building

Kazakhstan: violent clampdown highlights City of London’s lucrative role

Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities sells $1.2bn stake to Sequoia and Paradigm

Security talks with US and Nato ‘unsuccessful’, says Kremlin

Twitter Spaces: Russia’s Geopolitical ambitions - 12pm ET/ 5pm GMT

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Environmental activists target top PR firms Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Boris Johnson suffered the toughest day of his premiership on Wednesday when he faced calls to quit after he admitted attending a Number 10 “bring your own booze” party during lockdown, the commodities boom has extended to nickel which reached its highest level in a decade, environmentalist activists are targeting public relations firms, and Beyond Meat has become one of the most shorted companies on US stock market.

Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Mentioned in this podcast:

Nickel hits 10-year high as electric vehicle production ramps up

Activists target public relations groups for greenwashing fossil fuels

Short sellers pile into Beyond Meat

Boris Johnson faces calls to resign after ‘bring your own booze’ event

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The Fed’s Big Shrink Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

https://www.ft.com/content/afd4c412-780b-407a-8b5a-10175cf319fc

A US judge says that the Federal Trade Commission can go ahead with a revised case seeking to break up Facebook, and the latest US inflation report is expected to show prices rose at their fastest pace in nearly 40 years. Plus, the FT’s US markets editor, Eric Platt, explains how the Federal Reserve is expected to wind down its $9tn balance sheet after a pandemic largesse.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Facebook loses bid to dismiss FTC antitrust case a second time

US inflation expected to rise at fastest pace in nearly 40 years

Federal Reserve prepares to shrink $9tn balance sheet after pandemic largesse

Hot-water bottles are… hot

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US shifts from the ‘war on drugs’ Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

https://www.ft.com/content/d84a12a8-97da-4331-836b-391c25c8676b

The Federal Reserve’s second-in-command has resigned after a trading scandal, companies raised more than $100bn on the bond market in the first week of this year, and Wall Street’s biggest banks are set to report record profits. Plus, the FT’s pharmaceutical correspondent, Jamie Smyth, discusses the latest controversy as the US shifts away from the ‘war on drugs’.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Fed’s second-in-command resigns after trading scandal

Companies raise $100bn on global debt market in brisk start to 2022

Wall Street banks set to report record profits for 2021

Will overdose deaths force an end to the US ‘war on drugs’?

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