FT News Briefing

Home prices in the US and UK skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic. In a special four-part series, we explored how they got so out of whack and what might work to bring back some balance.  Mentioned in this podcast: Homesharing offers a cheaper alternative to rental accommodation Turning offices into condos: New York after the pandemic The Fed’s waiting game: is the US economy finally s...

The Bank of England’s 50 basis point interest rate rise is causing concern for the UK’s already-high mortgages, and Germany has signed another long-term deal to import more US liquefied natural gas. Plus, the FT’s Aanu Adeoye explains what’s at stake in Sierra Leone’s election this weekend.  Mentioned in this podcast: ‘We’re suffering’: soaring costs create opening for Sierra Leone’s oppositi...

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi is set to address the US Congress today, and US regulators are accusing Amazon of duping customers into signing up for its Prime service without their consent. Plus, Italy has stripped China’s Sinochem of its influence as the largest shareholder in the Italian tyremaker Pirelli.  Mentioned in this podcast: India’s Narendra Modi embarks on US state visit to...

Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has accelerated dealmaking in the US, and US president Joe Biden’s son has agreed to plead guilty to tax and firearm possession charges. Plus, the FT’s Madhumita Murgia visited an AI voice technology start-up to explain some of its applications and risks.  Mentioned in this podcast: Singapore’s GIC accelerates US deals as China cools Hunter Biden hit with...

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has met with China's President Xi Xinping in an attempt to ease US-Sino tensions. Plus, the aerospace industry says that flying taxis could soon be on the horizon in cities around the world. Mentioned in this podcast: Xi Jinping sees ‘progress’ in China-US ties at meeting with Antony Blinken Which flying taxi will take off first? Amazon, Hilton and Starbucks t...

AstraZeneca has drawn up plans to break out its China business, and France is challenging a German-led plan to build up Europe’s air defences. Plus, US businesses are cutting back on their investments in diversity and inclusion.  Mentioned in this podcast: AstraZeneca drafts plan to spin off China business amid tensions France summons allies in challenge to German-led air defence plan&nb...

In this last episode of Martin Wolf’s series, the FT’s chief economics commentator sits down with the FT’s executive opinion editor, Jonathan Derbyshire, to give his concluding thoughts on the state of the world’s democracies. Drawing on arguments in Martin’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, and his conversations in this series, they discuss what role citizens’ juries could play i...

In this fourth episode of Martin Wolf’s series, the FT’s chief economics commentator discusses the rise of populist politics with someone who was hit by its hard edge: Hillary Clinton. Drawing on arguments in Martin’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, they discuss what the future holds for democracy, why female leaders face such extreme misogyny and threats of violence, whether Pre...

UK hedge fund firm Odey Asset Management is being dismantled in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against its founder and Saudi Arabia has spent almost $8bn on gaming companies in the past 18 months as part of a turbocharged investment spree. Plus, FT markets editor Katie Martin talks about this week’s asynchronous central bank moves.  Mentioned in this podcast: ECB increases interest...

The US Federal Reserve paused its interest rate rise campaign on Wednesday after 10 straight increases, and former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has been found to have committed “multiple” contempts of parliament. Plus, Russian energy giant Gazprom has been backing militias in the Ukraine war. Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve pauses rate rise campaign but signals more to come Boris Joh...

EY’s global chief executive Carmine Di Sibio says he is planning to retire next year, and the FT’s Joshua Franklin explains the impact of JPMorgan settling a lawsuit over its 15-year relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, in the fourth and final part of our housing series, we look at what the government can do to bring down prices.  Mentioned in this podcast: EY chief Carmine Di Sibio to re...

France is drumming up support for a global levy on greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry, and former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has died. Plus, an explosive FT investigation exposed sexual misconduct allegations against prominent financier Crispin Odey.  Mentioned in this podcast: France seeks to rally support for emissions levy on shipping Silvio Berlusconi, Itali...

The former first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested on Sunday, Boris Johnson’s exit from UK parliament will have consequences for the Conservative Party. Plus, former US president Donald Trump’s most recent indictment could have implications on his 2024 run for president.  Mentioned in this podcast: Nicola Sturgeon arrested in probe into SNP finances Johnson quits parliament...

In this third episode of Martin Wolf’s series, the renowned FT columnist and economist speaks to the journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, who has written extensively about the history of communism and the development of civil society in central and eastern Europe. Drawing on arguments in Martin’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, they discuss what lies behind a global rise in a...

Tesla and General Motors have struck a deal to let the Detroit carmaker’s customers plug in at 12,000 of the Texas company’s roadside chargers, and Turkey eased its long-running battle to defend the lira and the currency plunged. Plus, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday agreed on an “Atlantic declaration” to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. Ment...

We want to tell about a new podcast coming soon! On Unhedged, Ethan Wu, Katie Martin and other markets nerds at the Financial Times explain the big ideas behind what’s happening in finance right now. Unhedged launches June 13, you can follow the show here ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US, Taiwan and Japan will share real-time data from naval reconnaissance drones, India’s deadliest train accident happened despite years of investment, and an architect-developer duo in Baltimore, Maryland, are converting an historic office building into residential housing. But how much can it ease the housing shortage?  Mentioned in this podcast: US to link up with Taiwan and Japan dron...

The UK Cabinet Office will tell central government departments to remove all surveillance equipment made by Chinese companies from sensitive sites; and the venture capital giant Sequoia Capital is splitting its China business into a separate entity amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. Plus, the destruction of a dam on the front lines of the war in Ukraine has flooded entire towns a...

US securities regulators yesterday sued the world’s largest crypto exchange and accused Binance of a host of violations, sliding German butter prices are spreading hope of lower food inflation, and global carmakers have been caught off guard by the speed of China’s shift to electric vehicles.  Mentioned in this podcast: Crypto exchange Binance sued by SEC in latest blow from US regulators Sli...

Saudi Arabia is cutting oil production, Turkey has a new finance minister and Apple is unveiling a mixed-reality headset today. Plus, the FT’s Kaye Wiggins explains how Asda has been able to take on enormous debt and whether its luck is about to change.  Mentioned in this podcast: Virtual reality start-ups pin hopes on Apple to lure back funding Saudi Arabia seeks to boost oil price with outp...

A special live recording of the FT News Briefing at the FT Weekend Festival in Washington, DC. Our terrific colleagues played a friendly game of news trivia, and the FT’s Ethan Wu gave us a preview of his new podcast Unhedged , which comes out June 13.  The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Katie M...

In this second episode of Martin Wolf’s series, the renowned FT columnist and economist speaks to Larry Diamond, a leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies and a senior fellow in global democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Drawing on arguments in Martin’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, they discuss what...

Binance has lost a quarter of its market share, the US government is on the verge of passing a deal to raise the debt ceiling, and Eurozone inflation has fallen more than economists expected to hit its lowest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus, Ukraine’s attacks such as the Moscow drone strikes are seen as ‘magician’s sleight of hand’ that deceives the Kremlin and derails Russia’s plan...

The US House of Representatives voted to raise the debt ceiling last night. Plus, in part two of our housing series, the FT’s Persis Love explores a niche solution to skyrocketing rents in the UK, called homesharing.  Mentioned in this podcast: US closer to avoiding historic default as House advances debt ceiling bill Homesharing offers a cheaper alternative to rental accommodation The FT New...

China has called for “stable and constructive” ties with the US in a meeting with Elon Musk and some Wall Street companies are building their own digital markets trading platforms to compete with crypto companies. Plus, the FT’s Nicholas Megaw explains why investment funds have become a bigger insider trading risk for US lawmakers than buying shares in a single company.  Mentioned in this pod...