FT News Briefing

US lawmakers are set to pass a $700bn spending bill, activity on European corporate bond markets has slowed to a near standstill and US initial public offerings have ground to a halt. Plus, Ben & Jerry’s is in a legal battle with parent company Unilever over sales in the disputed West Bank and East Jerusalem.  Mentioned in this podcast: Corporate lawyers take it easy as US IPO market drie...

US stocks rallied after the latest US inflation report showed price rises slowed in July, Disney beat analyst expectations and added 15mn subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service, and social media companies want livestreams to be the future of shopping.  Mentioned in this podcast: Disney’s streaming business defies industry gloom US inflation eased slightly in July on lower petrol pr...

Taiwanese national security officials want to force Apple supplier Foxconn to unwind an $800mn investment in a Chinese chip company, and corporate America is fuming over president Joe Biden’s economic package. Plus, we have a military update on the war in Ukraine, and how tennis legend Serena Williams plans to spend her retirement.  Mentioned in this podcast: Taiwan security officials want Fo...

China’s extended military drills around Taiwan are stoking fears of a drawn-out period of heightened tension and investors are split over whether the recent US tech rally will continue. Plus, the FT’s Jude Webber explains how taxes from the tech sector are helping Ireland’s economy against a recession.  Mentioned in this podcast: US pledges further $1bn in military aid for Ukraine China exten...

Investors are selling stakes in private equity and venture capital funds at the fastest pace on record so far this year, and earnings at companies such as Uber and Lyft are surging. Plus, the FT’s Patrick McGee reports that more than a dozen employees, past and present, say Apple’s HR team mishandled claims of harassment and misconduct. The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson...

This week, we talk to the author Elif Batuman about her new novel ‘Either / Or’. The book is set in the 1990s, and follows Elif’s fictionalised alter ego, Selin, as she navigates life as a Harvard student. Elif reflects on looking back at the ’90s from a contemporary perspective and talks about what we’ve learnt since. Then, we hear about feedback...

US new unemployment claims have reached a six-month high as the labour market cools, the Bank of England raised interest rates by 0.5 percentage points, and European banks are adjusting to higher interest rates.  Mentioned in this podcast: US jobless claims hit six-month high as labour demand cools Bank of England raises interest rates by 0.5 percentage points Europe’s lenders prepare for lif...

SoftBank has raised as much as $22bn in cash from deals that would sharply reduce its stake in Alibaba over the coming years, Iran and western powers resume talks this week over the floundering 2015 nuclear accords, and as political polarisation reaches into the workplace companies must manage conflicts among employees while striving for sensitivity and diversity.  Mentioned in this podcast:...

China has blocked imports from hundreds of Taiwanese food producers in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, a flurry of executive departures from SoftBank stokes uncertainty over who will take over from Masayoshi Son, and Behind The Money host Michela Tindera joins the Briefing to talk about the latest BTM episode that explores “Generation Moonshot” investors. Subscrib...

Instagram head Adam Mosseri is moving to London, HSBC has pledged to restore its dividend to pre-pandemic levels, and China is facing its first overseas debt crisis.  Mentioned in this podcast: Instagram head Adam Mosseri to temporarily relocate to London HSBC pledges to restore dividend to pre-pandemic levels China reckons with its first overseas debt crisis The FT News Briefing is produced...

The Bank of England is set to consider its biggest rate rise in more than 25 years, the EU and UK are easing up on Russian oil restrictions to keep gas prices from spiking, and some investors are getting back in the crypto market after a crash earlier this year. Plus, China is trying to come up with a $148bn bailout fund to help complete stalled property developments amid concerns about social unr...

This week, we hear about a new 'miracle' weight-loss drug called Wegovy. It has unprecedented clinical results and endorsements from celebrities such as Queen Latifah. But critics say it deals with the symptom but not the cause. Then, we’re joined by Lauren Indvik, the FT's fashion editor. She explains how to efficiently pinpoint your personal style, and build a wardrobe that saves money, time and...

The US economy has shrunk for two consecutive quarters, many energy companies are posting record profits but French EDF recorded a record loss, and US markets are reacting unpredictably to tech earnings reports.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: US economy shrinks for second consecutive quarter French energy group EDF records €5.3bn los...

US interest rates are going up by 0.75% for the second month in a row, the drama surrounding Elon Musk’s halted Twitter takeover debacle is hurting the social media company’s advertising business and employee morale, and European gas prices are rising as Russia cuts gas flows to the continent.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Fed raise...

Walmart profit warnings shine a light on disparities in US consumer behaviour, the International Monetary Fund slashes its global growth forecast, and Argentines are scrambling to exchange their pesos for dollars on the black market.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Credit Suisse set to name Ulrich Körner as chief executive Walmart iss...

US Big Tech companies are set to release quarterly earnings this week, German business confidence hits a two-year low, and French satellite operator Eutelsat has confirmed it is in discussions to acquire smaller British rival OneWeb in an all-share deal. Plus, cities are especially vulnerable to this summer’s record hot temperatures.   An early version of this podcast stated the UK left...

The dollar’s surge to its highest level in 20 years is taking a toll on the corporate earnings of US companies with overseas operations, European bank earnings reports are expected to benefit from rising interest rates, and Ukraine’s Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko spoke to the FT about the challenges of managing his war-torn country’s finances. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcast...

This week, we look at the dark side of professional tennis, where underpaid players are selling matches just to break even. Ranked around 200th in the world, a player named Nicolás Kicker was found guilty of match-fixing in 2018. His story reveals a lot of systemic problems within the sport. Then, we hear about the phenomenon of 'vice signalling' from columnist Stephen Bush. It’s similar to 'virtu...

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigns, the European Central Bank raises interest rates for the first time in more than a decade, Russia and Ukraine reach a deal to end a month-long grain blockade, and the FT’s Katie Martin explains why markets might rally when they see signs of a recession in corporate earnings reports.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Men...

Tesla withstood disruption to China production and the high costs of scaling up new plants in Texas and Germany, Ukraine is getting some debt relief from western creditors, and Sri Lanka is just one of a number of developing economies facing growing pressure from soaring energy costs and a stronger US dollar. Plus Italian prime minister Mario Draghi’s government is on the brink of collapse, and Li...

Netflix loses 1mn subscribers, small and midsize venture capital firms in China are struggling to raise funds as foreign investors flee risk, and former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is running to be the country’s head of state again, in what could be an extraordinary political comeback.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast:...

Japanese tech investor SoftBank has put on hold plans for an initial public offering of Arm because of the political turmoil in the UK, a luxury shoe brand popularised by Sex and the City has won a trademark lawsuit after more than two decades, and the FT’s Martin Wolf breaks down what the battle to become the next British prime minister means for the country’s economy.  Mentioned in this pod...

The leader of Sri Lanka’s biggest opposition party has urged the IMF to provide support to ease the country’s humanitarian crisis and cushion the blow of reforms, once high-flying financial technology companies are seeing their valuations crash to earth, and the FT’s Swamp Notes columnists Ed Luce and Rana Faroohar join Marc Filippino to talk about the changing economic geography of the US. ...

This week, Lilah talks to Martin Wolf about having the confidence to change your mind. Martin is our chief economics commentator and one of the most influential economics journalists in the world. He reflects on how he forms a worldview, and how his opinions have shifted over the past half-century. Then, we hear about the 'gentle parenting' craze on Instagram from Washington correspondent Courtney...

Italian prime minister Mario Draghi offered to resign, which caused problems for Italian stocks and for the euro. Plus, two of the biggest US banks had worse earnings reports than analysts expected.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Mario Draghi offers to resign as Italy’s prime minister JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley profit miss casts pal...