FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

US-owned ship attacked off Yemen Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Red Sea shipping route remains dangerous. What's behind Chinese carmaker BYD's success in the electric vehicle market? And new figures show Germany was the world’s weakest-performing major economy last year.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Germany was worst-performing major economy last year

China’s electric vehicle dominance presents a challenge to the west

Wang Chuanfu, the driving force behind BYD’s rise

The FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Persis Love, Josh Gabert-Doyon, and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Simon Panayi. Topher Forhecz and Manuela Saragosa were executive producers. 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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Taiwan defies China in election Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

Taiwan’s presidential election shows that voters are willing to defy China, the 2024 US presidential election kicks off today, and American banks say that American consumers are in good shape.

Mentioned in this podcast:

What Taiwanese voters’ defiance means for China

Banks say US consumers in good shape but poll shows Biden gets no credit

Iowa poll shows Trump far ahead of rivals in Republican race

Credit: CBS News

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.

The world’s biggest mining project finally gets off the ground Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

The US and the UK have carried out military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, US inflation numbers for December cool expectations for interest rate cuts in March. Plus, the FT’s Tom Wilson explains why the world’s biggest mining project took so long to get off the ground and whether it was worth the headache.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US and UK launch strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen

Buckle up — the inflation battle is entering a new phase

World’s biggest mining project to start after 27 years of setbacks and scandals

Newsletter: Chris Giles on Central Banks

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Josh Gabert-Doyon 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.

What ETFs mean for bitcoin Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

US President Joe Biden plans to send a high-level delegation to Taipei after the election in Taiwan on Saturday, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the first spot bitcoin exchange traded funds, and the Iran-backed militant group known as the Houthis are stepping up its attacks in the Red Sea.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Joe Biden to send delegation to Taipei after Taiwan’s election

Taiwan’s pivotal vote: China casts shadow over island’s election

SEC approves first spot bitcoin ETFs in boost to crypto advocates

Who are the Houthis?

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The scramble for a new EU leader Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Chinese companies are resorting to chips repurposed from standard PC gaming products to develop artificial intelligence tools, and Charles Michel’s run for European parliament is causing a scramble to replace him. Plus, a new TV show is firing Brits up over a decades-old post office scandal.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Chinese companies resort to repurposing Nvidia gaming chips for AI

How Charles Michel’s parliament plan fires up the EU’s top job battle

How a Post Office drama galvanised Britain

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Can Boeing get back on track? Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Shares in Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems tumbled after a mid-flight accident, and tens of thousands of Afghan women and girls have been able to join online study programmes despite the Taliban’s ban on female education.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Boeing and supplier shares fall after mid-flight Alaska Airlines accident

Afghan women and girls flock online to evade Taliban curbs on female education

Biden says he is pressing Israel to ‘significantly get out’ of Gaza

Israel says it has destroyed Hamas as a fighting force in north Gaza

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Football clubs are pouring billions into stadiums Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

A pile up of bad debt threatens to sour investors’ growing optimism about the prospects for the US’s largest banks, and European football clubs are pouring money into transforming stadiums. Plus, the FT’s Joe Miller explains why another bad bet by SoftBank could be trouble for the Japanese group.

Mentioned in this podcast:

SoftBank’s Gen Z social media bust: was IRL the next Facebook or a fraud?

The European football clubs turning stadiums into cash cows

Largest US banks set to log sharp rise in bad loans

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Local Chinese banks get a lifeline Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

One of the world’s top gold producers fired its chief executive for serious misconduct, Chinese provinces pumped a record $31bn of capital into fragile regional banks last year, and German inflation accelerated to its fastest rate for three months in December. Plus, a study shows widespread untracked fishing is hindering global efforts to protect depleted fish stocks and marine environments.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Endeavour Mining CEO dismissed for serious misconduct

Off-radar fishing threatens efforts to preserve stocks, study warns

China steps up aid for regional banks as economic risks mount

German inflation rises to 3.8% in blow to rate-cut hopes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Convertible bonds are so hot right now Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Minutes from the December Federal Reserve meeting show that officials were committed to higher-for-longer interest rates, convertible bonds have been a rare bright spot for corporate fundraising, and two bombs killed more than a hundred people in southern Iran yesterday. Plus, some Russians convicted of gruesome crimes are returning to their communities after fighting in Ukraine.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Fed officials said rates could remain high ‘for some time’

US companies dive into convertible debt to hold down interest costs

Bomb blasts at Iranian commander’s grave kill nearly 100

The Russian murderers sent home as free men after fighting in Ukraine

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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BlackRock and Vanguard duke it out over ETF market Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Russia has fired a second massive barrage of the new year on Ukraine’s capital and the country’s second-largest city, Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing allies have blasted Israel’s top court for striking down a controversial law aimed at overhauling the country's judiciary, and BlackRock’s lead in the US exchange traded fund market is being eroded by Vanguard and smaller rivals.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Russia pounds Ukraine in new year’s second massive air strike

Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies blast top court but wait to revive judicial overhaul

Vanguard and rivals gain ground on BlackRock in US ETF market

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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