FT News Briefing

Hess shareholders approved a controversial takeover bid from Chevron, and South Africans vote today in the most contested election since the end of apartheid,Plus, the FT’s James Kynge argues that China is winning the tech war with the US.  Mentioned in this podcast: South Africa’s ‘lost leader’ faces the end game Georgia adopts Russian-inspired ‘foreign agents’ law Tech Tonic podcast The FT...

This episode features a truncated version of a recent Behind the Money podcast as it travels to Omaha, Nebraska for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting. At this year’s event, there’s a lingering question over what will happen once Warren Buffett is no longer at the helm. Buffett has a successor in mind, and we explore the challenges they could face when taking over America’s “last grea...

The European Central Bank looks almost certain to be one of the first major central banks to cut rates, a tense dispute over Guyana is casting a shadow over Chevron’s bid to takeover Hess, and Thames Water pumped 14.2bn litres of sewage into the river Thames last year. Plus, the nuclear power industry is seeking to lure back thousands of retired engineers.  Mentioned in this podcast: ECB is r...

American voters still say the economy is their most important electoral issue, and a growing number are less than pleased with Joe Biden’s economic management. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and the vice-president of North Star Opinion Research, Jon McHenry, join this week’s Swamp Notes to break down the results of the most recent FT-Michigan Ross poll.  Mentioned in t...

Elon Musk’s xAI has secured new backing from three Silicon Valley venture capital giants, women in Ukraine have increasingly stepped into roles men used to perform before Russia’s full-scale invasion, and the FT’s Soumaya Keynes explains why the UK’s Labour party benefits from being boring.  Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk’s xAI secures new backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia and T...

Rishi Sunak has taken a huge gamble by announcing a July 4 election, record sales of artificial intelligence chips sent Nvidia’s revenue soaring 262 per cent in the past quarter Adani Group passed off low-quality coal as far more expensive cleaner fuel in transactions with an Indian state power utility, according to evidence seen by the Financial Times, and the first batch of genetically engineere...

UK deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden went on a secret trip to the UAE, PwC is bracing for penalties over its audit of collapsed Chinese property developer Evergrande, and traders are anticipating huge swings in Nvidia shares after the company reports earnings on Wednesday.  Mentioned in this podcast: UK launches charm offensive with UAE after relations sour PwC partners brace for Chinese pu...

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has dealt a shocking blow to the Islamic regime, and the public mood in advanced countries remains low as the cost of living crisis keeps households under pressure. Plus, the decision by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to apply for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is a huge setback for Israel.  Me...

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday, Niger is on the verge of becoming a regional oil major, and western countries are trying to replace a UN body that monitors compliance with international sanctions on North Korea.  Mentioned in this podcast: Helicopter carrying Iran’s president crashes Border dispute hinders Niger’s China-built oil pipeline Russia has st...

A special live recording of the FT News Briefing at the FT Weekend Festival in Washington, DC on May 4, 2024. Our wonderful colleagues played a friendly game of news trivia. How does your knowledge stack up?  The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da...

Joe Biden once criticised Donald Trump’s trade war with China, but things look a lot different in an election year. The FT’s US climate reporter, Aime Williams, and US financial editor, Brooke Masters, join Swamp Notes to explain why the president announced such sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods this week, and how it could help him win votes.  Mentioned in this podcast: Why Washington’s...

The US Supreme Court rejects an existential legal challenge to the country’s top consumer finance watchdog, a $10bn US property fund is running low on liquidity as investors demand their money back, and Russia and China agree to tighten military ties and deepen their economic partnership after talks in Beijing. Plus, central banks around the world are impatiently waiting for the Federal Reserve to...

The US inflation report sent stocks to record highs and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot on Wednesday. Plus, the FT’s John Reed explains why India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is so popular.  Mentioned in this podcast: US inflation falls to 3.4% in April Slovak premier Robert Fico shot and injured Narendra Modi launches candidacy in India’s marathon election How to understand Modi...

The Biden administration is encouraging Arab states to participate in a multinational force that could deploy in Gaza once the war ends, Anglo American plans to thwart BHP’s £34bn takeover bid by breaking itself up, and the US is sharply raising tariffs on Chinese imports from electric vehicles to solar cells. Plus, Singapore’s new prime minister has his work cut out.  Mentioned in this podca...

The carmaker behind Fiat and Peugeot is in talks to invest in Indonesian nickel, the meme-stock movement came back to life, and Chinese authorities have kicked off plans to sell $140bn of long-dated bonds to stimulate the economy. Plus, what Russia’s new defence minister means for the country’s war effort Mentioned in this podcast: GameStop soars in meme stock flashback as ‘Roaring Kitty’ reappear...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tries to revive Conservative morale with a speech in London, four Chinese generative artificial intelligence start-ups have been valued at more than $1bn in the past three months, and US shale oil companies are under the spotlight over allegations of manipulating prices. Plus, the frontrunner in Mexico’s presidential election is promising more of the same. Mentioned i...

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 press...

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 America...

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...

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 rev...

SoftBank is leading an investment of more than $1bn into a UK self-driving car start-up, and poppy 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 heartla...

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 v...

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 ch...

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 rev...

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...