FT News Briefing - Financial Times

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Nvidia turns to insurers to offset AI risks Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

UKchancellor 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 Islands has put even more pressure on its relationship with neighboring Argentina, and Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart has enlisted global pop megastar Lady Gaga to help offset the country’s acute labour shortage.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Burnham to set out plan to break ‘politics as usual’ by tackling UK’s biggest issues

Blair-era money is ‘not there now’, Healey warns Labour

Nvidia turns to insurers to spread the risk of AI buildout

Nvidia launches record $150bn share buyback

Oil price and US Treasury yields in tightest relationship since 1990

Oil raises the stakes in Argentina’s push against the Falklands

Lady Gaga tells Japanese people to work for FamilyMart

Credit: Oricon, Labour party

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

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Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as prime minister Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

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 vision

EU countries consider Nato-style joint responses to Russian hybrid attacks

Foreign investors bet Panama can shrug off social unrest and Trump threats

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, Katya Kumkova, 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.

Bond rout pushes US mortgage rates past 7% Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Xi Jinping said the US and China should avoid being drawn into a “conflict” in remarks at the White House, andBrussels 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 explains what the bond market sell-off means for US mortgage rates and the health of the economy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Xi Jinping says US and China must ‘coexist in peace’ in historic White House visit

US mortgage rates breach 7% as affordability pressures mount

EU urges UK to raise tariffs on Chinese cars to avoid ‘made in Europe’ barriers

Subway rival bets hot sandwiches will sell in UK’s ‘cold and rain’

Credit: United Nations, White House

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 Treasury yields soar Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

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.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US Treasury yields soar most since ‘liberation day’ tariffs shook markets

Treasury open to smaller fiscal headroom to reduce tax hikes

The FT’s Budget dashboard: the data confronting Chancellor John Healey

Rosneft billions fed Kremlin-backed money laundering network

Syria: a dangerous search for justice

Crime and punishment in the Middle East

Credit: PBS

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.

Will Trump and Xi extend their trade truce? Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

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 with ties to the Trump family to bid for the international assets of Lukoil.

Mentioned in this podcast:

What happened to the US’s China hawks?

What Xi Jinping wants from his summit with Donald Trump

Donald Trump rejects ‘globalist scheme’ in blow to Andy Burnham’s plan for AI guidelines

Oil tanker costs hit record $1.2mn a day as Iran war disrupts shipping

US government and Gulf billionaires back Todd Boehly bid for Lukoil assets

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.

How a Russian forgery scheme evaded sanctions Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

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 banks

Polymarket starts European lobbying blitz to win over financial watchdogs

Merz’s woes cast doubt over EU’s €2tn budget

Philippines’ ube export ban threatens end of purple patch

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.

Germany’s Merz vows to stay despite ‘disaster’ Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast:

German chancellor Merz vows to stay on despite ‘disaster’ in regional elections

Jon Ossoff’s Georgia race stirs talk of 2028 US presidential audition

Volkswagen ejected from European blue-chip index in blow to crisis-hit carmaker

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

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

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Reform UK mega-donors stir controversy Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

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 bycrypto 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 data centre IPO.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Venezuela nears deal to move $4bn gold reserve to New York

Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home

Glencore suspends senior executive in review of ties to iron ore trader

OpenAI’s listing delay raises stakes for SoftBank’s $50bn data centre IPO

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, Katya Kumkova, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. 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.

Fed interest rate rises are back Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

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 2023

EU asks China to voluntarily limit car exports

Von der Leyen to paint EU as the only port in a global geopolitical storm

AI is transforming warfare. But not making it easier to win

Credit: Federal Reserve

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 billionaires bankroll Republican election push Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

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 China work together on AI risk?

US billionaires line up to bankroll Republicans’ election push

EU rebuffs Mark Carney’s ‘unique alliance’ with Canada

The $1.6bn IPO that could draw millions of Nigerians to the stock market

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.