FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

Swamp Notes: The Fed’s political pressures May 11, 2024

Show notes

The US Federal Reserve is fiercely independent, but that doesn’t mean politicians always treat it that way. The FT’s US national editor, Edward Luce, and acting US economics editor, Claire Jones, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain how the central bank’s policy could affect the economy and therefore have an impact on the election result. Plus, why a second term for Donald Trump could put pressure on the Fed to play politics.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump’s dot plot for the Fed

Jay Powell’s dilemma: the US economy is too strong to cut rates

Global inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares

Swamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Original music by Hannis Brown.

CREDIT: US Federal Reserve

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Pandemic winners turned losers May 10, 2024

Show notes

Anglo American’s crucial South African shareholders are open to a takeover offer from BHP, Nippon Steel has vowed to push ahead with its $14.9bn acquisition of US Steel, and China’s President Xi Jinping has hailed Hungary as one of Beijing’s most important strategic partners. Plus, most pandemic corporate winners have turned into post-pandemic losers.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Anglo American’s South Africa investors open to improved BHP bid

Nippon Steel predicts ‘calmer discussions’ with unions after US presidential election

Xi Jinping upgrades China’s ties with Hungary to ‘all-weather’ partnership

Pandemic-era winners suffer $1.5tn fall in market value

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Josh Gabert-Doyon, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Singapore wants to shake up its stock market May 09, 2024

Show notes

Shares in Arm drop after it reports lacklustre revenue projections, Singapore is studying proposals to shake up its struggling stock market, EU countries have agreed to use an estimated €3bn in profits from Russia’s frozen state assets to buy weapons for Ukraine, and a newly expanded pipeline in Canada breathes life into the oil industry. Plus, hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall has lost a legal battle with the South African government over shipwrecked treasure.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Arm shares drop as revenue forecast falls short despite AI boom

Singapore battles to revive struggling stock market

EU agrees to arm Ukraine using profits from Russian state assets

Canada’s oil industry cuts reliance on US market as pipeline expands

Hedge fund boss Paul Marshall loses case over silver salvaged from shipwreck

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Breen Turner, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Israel moves into Rafah May 08, 2024

Show notes

Reddit's first-quarter earnings as a listed company surpass expectations, Israel threatened to expand its military operation in Rafah, and TikTok filed a lawsuit against the US government to block a potential ban of the social media app. Plus, global trade growth is set to more than double this year as inflation eases and a booming US economy helps drive activity.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US revokes licences for supply of chips to China’s Huawei

TikTok challenges divest-or-ban bill in US court

Israel threatens to expand Rafah operation as US struggles to revive talks

Global trade growth set to more than double this year

US revokes licences for supply of chips to China’s Huawei

Reddit soars 16% after beating Wall Street estimates in first post-IPO quarter

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Mischa Frankl-Duval, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Paramount’s a long way from its peak May 07, 2024

Show notes

SoftBank is leading an investment of more than $1bn into a UK self-driving car start-up, andpoppy and marijuana farming money is disappearing from rural areas as traffickers shift to synthetic drugs. Plus, the FT’s Anna Nicolaou explains the rival bids to buy Paramount.

Mentioned in this podcast:

SoftBank leads $1bn funding for UK artificial intelligence group Wayve

El Chapo’s opium heartland bereft as Mexico cartels embrace fentanyl

Shari Redstone, a media scion weighing the future of her ravaged empire

James Cameron and Ari Emanuel back Skydance bid for Paramount

Brussels seeks to ban Russian funding of European politicians

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Denise Guerra, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Xi’s balancing act with Europe May 06, 2024

Show notes

Warren Buffett said Greg Abel should have the final decision on investments at Berkshire Hathaway, the US and Europe disagree on how to manage Russia’s frozen assets, and Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Europe. Plus, college students in the US are calling for their universities to divest from Israel, but it’s not that simple.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Bonhomie and hardball: Xi Jinping visits Europe to avert trade war

The clash over whether to commandeer Russia’s frozen assets

Divestment is not as easy as it may seem

Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Buffett cuts stake in Apple

Buffett lays out expansive role for successor Greg Abel at poignant Berkshire AGM

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Swamp Notes: The uproar at American universities May 04, 2024

Show notes

Student-led protests against Israel’s war in Gaza have spread across the US in recent weeks, with demonstrators building tent encampments on university grounds, and even storming university buildings. The FT’s Washington bureau chief, James Politi, and FT New York correspondent, Joshua Chaffin, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why the protests could hurt President Joe Biden’s re-election chances.

Mentioned in this podcast:

New York police storm Columbia University and arrest pro-Palestinian protesters

Police raid UCLA protest camp as clashes over Gaza spread across US

Swamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Original music by Hannis Brown.

CREDIT: NBC News New York, X/@JaunMaBenitez, X/@AnthonyCabassa_, PBS NewsHour

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

The murky moves behind the yen May 03, 2024

Show notes

Apple’s revenue fell 4 per cent in the first three months of 2024, Japan apparently intervened several times this week to support the yen, and US regulators have accused the former boss of the largest US shale oil producer of trying to collude with the Opec cartel. Plus, Europe solved its Russian gas problems in the short term, but created long-term problems.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Apple’s revenue weighed down by falling China sales

Japanese government spent $35bn to prop up yen, BoJ figures suggest

Japan is haunted by a return to emerging-economy status

FTC accuses ex-Pioneer boss of seeking to collude with Opec

How Europe solved its Russian gas problem

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Higher rates for even longer (and longer) May 02, 2024

Show notes

The Federal Reserve has signalled that US borrowing costs are likely to remain higher for longer, and cruise operator Viking Holdings rose on its market debut. Plus the FT’s Owen Walker explains what the exit of HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn means for the bank’s China strategy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Federal Reserve signals that interest rates will remain higher for longer

Cruise line Viking rises after launching year’s second-largest US IPO

What triggered Noel Quinn’s shock exit from HSBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Private equity’s green thumb May 01, 2024

Show notes

Strong sales at Amazon’s cloud computing division helped the Big Tech giant beat analyst estimates for revenue and profit, private capital is playing a growing role in the green energy transformation, and foreign carmakers are teaming up with Chinese technology groups to compete in the local market.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Amazon’s strong cloud sales help power revenue gains

Can private equity accelerate the green transition?

Jeremy Hunt warns FCA against ‘naming and shaming’ business

‘Everything has changed’: foreign auto groups embrace local technology in China

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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