FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

Houthis attack Riyadh airport Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

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 refineries

Ukraine’s allies vow to pressure Moscow as Trump claims ‘energy ceasefire’ in place

Missile strike on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures hundreds

Houthis show military reach with deadly missile strikes on Riyadh

AI borrowing slows as investors grow wary of debt binge

Wall Street’s record-breaking trading streak set to cool

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SoftBank wants Gulf money to expand AI bet Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

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 groups with links to a Trump family-backed company are embroiled in a $141mn legal battle.

Mentioned in this podcast:

SoftBank seeks $100bn from Gulf to expand massive AI bet

The online life of the Flydubai attacker

Donald Trump says US ‘will not be attacking Iran’ before midterm elections

Oil prices jump on tanker attacks and slowing flows through Strait of Hormuz

EasyJet doubles winter flight cuts amid rising costs

Two Latvian nationals arrested on suspicion of trespass at RAF base

Crypto companies linked to Trump-backed firm in $141mn legal battle

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil companies are full speed ahead in the Middle East Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

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 to a record high.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Oil majors look beyond Middle East war to access region’s vast reserves

Iran war blows near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances

Big investors ‘bottom fish’ in Eurozone bond markets after France sell-off

China races to build AI data centres across energy-rich hinterland

SpaceX credit risk jumps on worries over its borrowing spree

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skydance’s debt pile takes the spotlight Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

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 taxing big US tech companies through a broad levy on large corporations.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Debt in the spotlight as Paramount closes $111bn deal for Warner Bros

Ships’ captains paid $100,000 a month to transit Strait of Hormuz

HMRC opened probe into Man City’s tax affairs in 2018

India’s motorbike billionaire steering tussle at Tata

Brussels looks to capture Big Tech through tax on large corporations

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bond sell-off comes for corporate America Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

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 stemming from AI agents going “rogue”.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Surge in borrowing costs hits corporate America

Brazil’s markets surge as investors bet on Flávio Bolsonaro election win

France: between the bond market and the barricades

Insurance claims to test Altman and Amodei liability for ‘rogue’ AI

Hong Kong quizzes HSBC over Singapore AI hub decision

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tories go back to basics Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

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.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Dealmaking slowdown threatens early end to M&A boom

Estonia shifts troops closer to Russia in ‘active defence’ push

Israelis rush to get new settlements past ‘starting line’ before election

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unhedged: An ode to stock picking Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

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 colleague Nathan Brooker, who runs the competition, to discuss the psychology of stock picking, and whether it has a future in real life. Plus, Nathan shorts holiday spoilers, Katie shorts pesky kids, and Rob throws active investors some love.

The FT’s next stock picking game launches on Monday October 5. Entry is free to all FT subscribers aged 18 or over. Registrations will remain open for a number of weeks after the launch date. To participate, go to: https://stockpickinggame.ft.com

For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer.

You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com.

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Zelenskyy says Putin’s gloves are off Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

UK Prime MinisterAndy 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 podcast:

Andy Burnham searches for UK alternative to Palantir

Putin has told military leaders to abandon rules of war, Zelenskyy says

Eurozone borrowing costs surge in global bond rout

US sanctions Kremlin-backed fintech A7 for allegedly assisting Iran

Scandal and succession in the House of Bolsonaro

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Big Tech gets the most facetime with EU Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

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 Israel

Big Tech out-lobbies European companies in Brussels

Auditor RSM explores IPO to ward off private equity-backed rivals

How Nike fell off the pace in China

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump shrugs off AI regulation Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

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 Healey’s emphasis on ‘cost of business’

Donald Trump held crunch talks on diesel export

US 30-year Treasury yield hits highest since 2002

Vanguard warns France is ‘long-term degrading credit’ as yields rise

Donald Trump says US tech bosses agreed to ‘self-regulation’ of AI risks

Anthropic warns of ‘existential risks to humanity’ in IPO prospectus

OpenAI axes next model citing safety issues

Credit: CNBC

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com