FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

US inflation is still on the right track Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

Iran has transferred five US citizens from prison to house arrest, US headline inflation in July rose slightly from June, and in Mexico the influence of the military has grown dramatically.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Iran transfers five imprisoned Americans to house arrest

US inflation edges up to 3.2% in July

The militarisation of Mexico’s economy

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The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. 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.

China’s economy falls into deflation Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Walt Disney reported quarterly results that showed declines at its television and movie businesses, China’s economy has fallen into deflation, and President Joe Biden is banning US tech investment in China. Plus, the FT’s Owen Walker explains why more and more countries in Europe are instituting windfall taxes on banks.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Disney shares jump after streaming losses narrow

Chinese economy falls into deflation as recovery stumbles

White House unveils ban on US investment in Chinese tech sectors

Italy joins wave of windfall taxes on banks across Europe

Google and Universal Music negotiate deal over AI ‘deepfakes’

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The weight-loss drug craze Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

The UK government is pushing back against an attempt by some members of the House of Lords to close loopholes in transparency legislation, US bank stocks fell after Moody’s cut the credit ratings of 10 midsized banks, and the FT’s Jamie Smyth explains the craze behind new weight-loss drugs.

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK government resists moves to tighten corporate transparency rules

Weak bank stocks weigh on US and European markets

Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug cuts risk of strokes and heart attacks

Orange juice futures hit record high after storms ravage Florida crop

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Why admitting Ukraine into the EU is tricky Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

Meta has axed a team that used artificial intelligence to create the first database of more than 600mn protein structures, and PayPal is launching a stablecoin. Plus, the FT’s Henry Foy explains why it’s so difficult for the EU to admit new members, Ukraine in particular.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Meta disbands protein-folding team in shift towards commercial AI

PayPal pushes deeper into crypto payments with stablecoin launch

The ‘monumental consequences’ of Ukraine joining the EU

FT Weekend podcast: David Byrne on Talking Heads and ‘Here Lies Love’

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Josh Gabert-Doyon, Monique Mulima, Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. 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.

Latin American central banks’ head start Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Private equity firms are increasingly offering sweeteners such as fee discounts to secure backing from deep-pocketed investors, US banks are still relying on hundreds of billions of dollars in government financing, and Latin America’s central banks have started cutting interest rates.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Private equity firms offer sweeteners in struggle to lure reluctant investors

Britain’s investors shy away from UK defence companies

Regional lenders struggle to get off government life support

Latin America’s central banks declare victory in war on inflation

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Peak social media: Building better platforms Aug 05, 2023

Show notes

Can we get rid of the bad bits of social media and keep the good? Is it possible to create a more positive social media experience than the one we get from the platforms that dominate the landscape today? In this episode, Elaine Moore asks what the social media platforms of the future should look like, and whether platforms designed for smaller groups of users with shared interests are the way forward.

We hear from writer and tech historian Benj Edwards about the BBS era of the early 1990s; University of Massachusetts professor Ethan Zuckerman; Sarah Gilbert, researcher at Cornell University and Reddit moderator; and Jonathan Abrams, partner at 8-Bit Capital and the creator of Friendster.

Presented by Elaine Moore. Produced by Edwin Lane and Josh Gabert-Doyon, Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Hannah Murphy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

The Lex Newsletter: Reddit and the API apocalypse

Discord has won over gamers. Now it wants everybody else

Reddit stands firm in clash with users as blackout on forums escalates

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Bank of England continues interest rate rise campaign Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Stronger than expected online sales helped Amazon beat Wall Street expectations for last quarter, and the Bank of England raised interest rates for the 14th time in a row. Plus, the FT’s Christopher Miller explains the strategy behind a series of drone attacks on Moscow.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Amazon’s cost-cutting and online sales lift earnings

Apple profits rise as services arm surpasses 1bn users

Bank of England raises interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

Treasury yields keep climbing after US increases borrowing plans

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

A hard landing for Europe? Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Investors are increasing their bets that Europe will sink into a painful economic downturn, and luxury groups are bracing for the end of the post-pandemic recovery boom. Plus, the FT’s Tokyo bureau chief Kana Inagaki explains why Nissan’s focus on regaining ground in China might be a bit of an uphill battle.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Investors turn gloomy over Europe’s economic outlook

Luxury sector slows after ‘bonkers’ post-pandemic spending spree

Why Nissan’s woes in China are not just about electric vehicles

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Trump indicted over attempt to overturn 2020 election Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

US prosecutors have charged Donald Trump in connection with his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Uber reported its first operating profit, and Fitch Ratings has cut the US debt rating from triple A to double A plus. Plus, the US Federal Reserve has become a target for Republican presidential candidates.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump indicted over attempt to overturn 2020 election

Uber makes first operating profit after racking up $31.5bn of losses

Fitch strips US of triple A rating after borrowing stand-off

Ron DeSantis vows to crack down on Federal Reserve’s ‘social engineering’

Uniper’s chief vows to deliver a ‘good return’ for Berlin after state rescue

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Monique Mulima, Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. 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.

Booming markets neutralise impact of Fed's interest rate rises Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Rising stock prices and falling bond yields in the US have essentially neutralised the impact of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate rises, western oil and gas majors are expected to face renewed scrutiny of their energy transition plans, and China’s metals and mining investments overseas are on track to hit a record this year. Plus, the private equity owners of German sandal maker Birkenstock are considering an initial public offering of the company.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US stocks notch longest monthly winning streak in two years

Booming markets neutralise impact of rate rises on US corporate fundraising

China’s overseas investment in metals and mining set to hit record

Oil majors to face energy transition scrutiny as war profit boost fades

Birkenstock owner eyes $8bn valuation in September IPO

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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