FT News Briefing

The pace of US job growth is expected to have cooled in September, Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive in the southern part of their country, and China keeps trying to pick off Taiwan’s allies.   Mentioned in this podcast: US jobs growth expected to have cooled in August Russian troops retreat from front lines in southern Ukraine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps —...

Opec+ is cutting oil output to prop up prices, the FT and Nikkei ranked the most popular US cities among foreign businesses, and this week’s Rachman Review podcast focuses on the massive protests in Iran. Mentioned in this podcast: Opec+ agrees to cut output by 2mn barrels a day Miami tops FT-Nikkei ranking of best US cities for foreign businesses Rachman Review podcast The FT News Briefing is pro...

Elon Musk is offering to follow through on his deal to buy Twitter, Russians are fleeing the country after Putin announced a conscription army, and the FT’s Ed White explains why China is having trouble transitioning to a new growth model.  Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk proposes buying Twitter for originally agreed $44bn Desperate Russians fleeing Putin’s war draft stream into Kazakhst...

The UK government reversed course on a tax cut, Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro defied expectations in the first round of election voting, and Credit Suisse is trying to reassure investors that rumours about its financial health are overblown. Plus, the FT’s James Kynge tells us how China’s property market crash is hurting local governments.  Mentioned in this podcast: Pound and gilts gain...

Opec+ is planning to cut oil production, and Tories are in Birmingham for their annual party conference while demonstrations against the cost of living crisis spread across the UK. Plus the FT’s Peggy Hollinger tells us what the US space agency Nasa is planning to do once the International Space Station is decommissioned.  Mentioned in this podcast: Kwarteng prepares to defend tax cuts as Tor...

Writer Jamaica Kincaid is one of the best known writers on race and colonialism in the US. Her writing is biting and fearless, and she’s been a keen observer of her native Antigua and the US since publishing her first essay in 1973. This week she joins Lilah together with the FT’s Enuma Okoro in a recording made at the recent FT Weekend Festival in London. Then we share some conversations we...

Russia plans to annex four regions of Ukraine today, turmoil in UK markets is spilling over on to global bond markets, and Germany announced a €200bn aid package to lower energy prices.  Mentioned in this podcast: Russia to annex four Ukrainian regions Global stocks and bond prices fall after gains in previous session Germany deploys ‘economic clout’ with €200bn energy aid package The FT News...

The UK's tax cutting plan is a political liability, the EU announced another round of Russian sanctions, and Brazil is days away from a monumental presidential election.  Mentioned in this podcast: Tory MPs question Kwasi Kwarteng’s future as market turmoil continues Brazil’s election and the search for an economic revival Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters reject bad news from Brazil election polls...

The IMF is criticising the UK’s tax cut plan, the US is pressing EU countries to speed up and increase the financial support for Ukraine, and the head of crypto lender Celsius Network resigned on Tuesday. Plus, officials in Europe say suspicious leaks on two Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea are likely the result of sabotage.  Mentioned in this podcast: IMF urges UK to ‘revaluate’ tax c...

China’s economic output will lag behind the rest of Asia for the first time since 1990, according to new World Bank forecasts, the Bank of England failed to reassure markets as the pound continued tumbling and the US is trying to boost access to uncensored internet in Iran. Plus, the FT’s Amy Kazmin explains why Italy chose a far-right government to lead the country in Sunday’s snap election ...

UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has vowed to double down on his controversial tax-cutting drive despite investor jitters, at least 41 people have died in protests in Iran sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for allegedly violating Islamic dress code. Plus, the FT’s Polina Ivanova explains how Russia’s military conscription is affecting remote regions of the country.  Mentioned...

NFTs were a big sensation, but the market for them has crashed. This week, we invited a crypto-sceptic, FT columnist Jemima Kelly, to answer all the questions you were afraid to ask . What are NFTs exactly? What happened with them? And have they changed the way we think about art? Jemima hosts the latest season of our FT podcast Tech Tonic, which is all about the cult of crypto. ------- Want to st...

Several EU member states are pushing for hard-hitting measures against Russia and a UN policy memorandum argues Pakistan should suspend international debt repayments. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains why the Bank of Japan would keep interest rates in negative territory and prop up the yen.  Mentioned in this podcast: Poland and Baltic states push for harsher EU sanctions against Russia Fl...

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage points for the third time in a row on Wednesday, and Credit Suisse has drawn up plans to split its investment bank in three. Plus, the FT’s Hannah Murphy explains how companies, and the negotiators they hire, deal with a ransomware attack.  Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell refuses to rule out US recession after thi...

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by 0.75 per cent today, Goldman Sachs is expanding its transaction banking business in Europe, and former Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick has tried to keep his new “dark kitchens” venture as secretive as possible.  Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve set to raise benchmark interest rate  Goldman Sachs hunts new reve...

Two Turkish banks have halted the use of Russia's payment system, two global energy agencies estimate it would cost $1tn to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change, and pension funds in Europe and Australia pressured asset manager Federated Hermes to stop sponsoring a group of US officials who oppose action on climate change. Plus, Swamp Notes columnists Ed Luce and Rana Foroohar discuss...

Markets are increasingly betting on policymakers raising borrowing costs higher and faster, an FT-IGM survey shows economists expect the US central bank will lift its benchmark policy rate above 4 per cent and hold it there beyond 2023, and the market downturn has sparked the longest tech IPO drought in more than 20 years. Plus, the FT’s Kadhim Shubber talks about his investigation into the fall o...

This week we discuss how young people view the late Queen Elizabeth with journalist Imogen West-Knights and our own producer Lulu Smyth. For many Millennials and Gen Zers, the first royal succession in 70 years is also the first time they’ve considered their stance on the monarchy more broadly. And it’s eliciting some mixed feelings. Then, we explore how we’re spending money on culture now. The FT...

China’s local government financing vehicles are bailing out cities and provinces that are struggling for cash, and UK prime minister Liz Truss is making a last-ditch effort to convince SoftBank to list its British chip maker, Arm, in the UK. Plus, the FT’s global business columnist Rana Foroohar argues that America’s wealthiest are making bad inflation worse.  Mentioned in this podcast China’...

The US and EU are concerned that Russia can use Turkish banks to evade financial sanctions, Porsche tries to catch up to Ferrari with an initial public offering of its own, plus, the FT’s Latin America editor Michael Stott talks about record migration throughout the Americas.   Mentioned in this podcast: US and EU step up pressure on Turkey over Russia sanctions  Porsche IPO: the race to...

A worse than expected US inflation report triggered a Wall Street sell-off, Twitter whistleblower Peiter Zatko testified in front of a US Senate committee about alleged security lapses at the social media site, and the US is struggling to put together an alliance to address computer chip supply chain issues.  Mentioned in this podcast: Rising inflation sparks fears of hard landing for US econ...

US inflation is expected to have eased due to falling energy prices and Ukraine has regained momentum fighting back the Russian invasion. Plus, Ruchir Sharma tells us why he thinks the dollar may not be the world’s dominant currency for much longer.  Mentioned in this podcast: Pace of US consumer price growth expected to have eased in August A post-dollar world is coming Ukraine’s defence min...

King Charles heads to Scotland today, UK financial markets are bracing for Liz Truss’s energy package, and Russia’s Gazprom is making record profits even though it’s shipping a fraction of the gas to Europe that it did last year.  Mentioned in this podcast: King Charles seeks to fortify the UK with tour of nations Queen Elizabeth II: inside the royal finances UK energy package will weigh on g...

Queen Elizabeth II has died after a 70-year reign. This weekend, we reflect on her legacy, life and cultural impact with FT Weekend editor Alec Russell. Then, producer Lulu Smyth takes us to meet the people gathered outside Buckingham Palace. ------- Links:  Simon Schama, ‘Elizabeth II: an appreciation’: https://on.ft.com/3qsNI64 Jo Ellison, ‘The Queen’s constancy never went out of style’: ht...

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has announced. The FT’s Miranda Green examines this moment, and what King Charles III’s assumption to the throne will mean for the royal family.  Mentioned in this podcast: Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96 The Queen's jubilee: How Britain has changed since 1952 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona S...