FT News Briefing - Financial Times

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JPMorgan swaps cash for Treasuries Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Investors are snapping up Venezuela’s defaulted debt, JPMorgan Chase has withdrawn almost $350bn in cash from its account at the Federal Reserve since 2023, and the US unemployment rate rose to its highest level in more than four years. Plus, global asset managers’ cash holdings have fallen to a record low in a sign of investors’ bullishness about the AI-fuelled stock market rally.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Investors pile into Venezuelan debt in regime change bet

JPMorgan pulls $350bn from Federal Reserve to buy up Treasuries

Bullish investors pile into stocks as cash levels sink to record low

US unemployment rate hits four-year high of 4.6%

Fifa offers cheaper World Cup tickets in response to outcry

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

EU-Mercosur trade deal hangs in the balance Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Shell’s merger chief departed after a bid to acquire rival BP was quashed internally, and the EU’s top trade official warns the bloc would lose global credibility if it fails to approve its trade deal with the Mercosur group of South American countries. Plus, Brussels plans to scrap the EU’s 2035 combustion engine ban, and hedge funds and trading firms are piling into physical commodities markets in search of new sources of returns.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Shell mergers chief departed after CEO blocked bid for BP

EU will lose face if it rejects Mercosur deal, warns trade commissioner

Brussels plans to scrap 2035 combustion engine ban

Hedge funds pile into commodities in search of fresh source of returns

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and produced by Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Investors hunt for protection against AI debt bust Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

A terror attack on a Jewish event in Sydney kills more than a dozen people. Plus, investors are increasingly concerned about how much debt is funding the AI boom, world leaders meet to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine, and it’s a big week for US economic data. And: The FT’s ‘Behind the Money’ podcast looks into whistleblowing in the UK.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Gunmen who killed 15 in Sydney attack on Jewish festival were father and son

Investors seek protection from risk of AI debt bust

Ukraine offers to drop Nato membership demands

Behind the Money podcast

Investors will have to wait until new year for clear data on US economy

Bank of England set to cut rates to 3.75% as economic data eases inflation concerns

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Persis Love and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Disney and OpenAI team up Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon is sentenced to 15 years in prison on two counts of fraud, and the Walt Disney Company will allow OpenAI to use its characters in its flagship products. Plus, football fans are outraged over ticket prices for next year’s World Cup. And, you’ll meet the hardliner who wants to make Chile great again.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Crypto founder Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison

Disney to invest $1bn in OpenAI

Football fans condemn ‘betrayal’ over ‘extortionate’ World Cup ticket prices

The hardliner who wants to make Chile great again

Friedrich Merz offers to host Ukraine talks so deal not done ‘above Europe’s head’

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Victoria Craig, and produced by Fiona Symon and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Fed cuts rates amid growing division Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point, and Oracle shares fell on Wednesday after it reported disappointing revenues. Plus, there’s one conglomerate in Abu Dhabi dominating the economy and its ownership is in the hands of the royal family.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Federal Reserve cuts rates to lowest level in three years in divisive decision

Oracle shares slide as data centre spending mounts

How Abu Dhabi’s economy came to be dominated by IHC

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Fiona Symon and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Australia is first country to ban social media for children Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

EU countries want to fast-track a decision to indefinitely immobilise up to €210bn in Russian sovereign assets, investors have increased bets that interest rates in major economies could diverge next year, and Berlin stands ready to throw its weight behind a German candidate to be the next president of the European Central Bank. Plus, Australia is now the first country in the world to restrict social media access for kids under the age of 16.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump gives Zelenskyy ‘days’ to respond to peace proposal

EU races to bypass Viktor Orbán on Russia assets before summit

Investors increase bets on ECB rate rise in threat to dollar

Germany sees high hurdles to winning ECB presidency

The countdown to the world’s first social media ban for children

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

A double bubble for gold and US equities Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Paramount has launched a $108bn hostile bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery, US natural gas prices are soaring as the country ships record amounts of the fuel overseas, and US President Donald Trump says Nvidia will be allowed to send its H200 chips to China. Plus, retail investors are helping drive gold and US stocks towards “bubble” territory, the Bank for International Settlements has warned.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Paramount gatecrashes Warner Bros-Netflix deal with $108bn hostile bid

Surging gas prices worsen affordability crisis for Americans

Nvidia can sell H200 AI chips to China, Donald Trump says

Retail investors help drive gold and US stocks to bubble territory, BIS warns

Credit: CNBC

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Federal Reserve set for divisive final 2025 rate decision Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Europe seeks to rally support for Ukraine as US pressure builds, and there’s likely to be plenty of debate ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final rate decision of the year. Plus, how Netflix’s blockbuster Warner Brothers Discovery buy could reshape entertainment.

Mentioned in this podcast:

European allies to rally support for Ukraine as US pressure mounts

France shielding €18bn Russian asset pot from EU ‘reparations loan’ push

Fed expected to cut rates despite deep divisions over US economic outlook

Donald Trump drives historic shift of power from investors to boardrooms

Hollywood fears job cuts as opposition to Netflix-Warner deal grows

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Big Four maintains stranglehold on UK audits Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

The Big Four accounting firms maintained their iron grip on auditing the UK’s largest companies last year, the industry watchdog has found. Plus, Japan’s economic normalisation could impact global bond markets.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Big Four maintain stranglehold on biggest UK audits

US senators seek to block Nvidia sales of advanced chips to China

Japan’s economic normalisation will affect global liquidity

Japanese 10-year bond yields rise to highest level since 2007

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

Wall Street frets over Hassett as potential Fed chair Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Bond-market investors worry that the leading candidate for Fed chair is too close to US President Donald Trump, while HSBC finally picks its new chair. Plus, the EU has a last-minute plan to fund Ukraine’s economic revival.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Bond investors warned US Treasury over picking Kevin Hassett as Fed chair

HSBC appoints Brendan Nelson as chair after chaotic search

Brussels floats ‘emergency’ powers to raise €210bn from Russian assets

Tell us whether your spending habits have changed this holiday season. Email Marc at marc.filippino@ft.com

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.

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